March 13, 2007
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NEWS: NYPD Rookies Offered PlasticIt's hard to be a rookie for the NYC Police Department. First of all, the pay stinks for those still in the academy – just over $21,000. And that pittance (considering the astronomical cost of living in the U.S.'s biggest city) only got instituted two years ago after much clamoring by advocates. On top of that, rookies are expected to foot the cost for books and uniforms – making the prospect of going to school to become a police officer very costly indeed! Up until recently, the Municipal Credit Union, which was established in the early part of the last century to help officers stay away from predatory loan sharks in financing their education- had been offering low-interest, 36 month loans. But apparently, it has not been enough; some junior officers have even asked for an extra loan to help make ends meet.
Towards that end, the credit union has begun offering Visa credit cards to cadets. And while NYPD reps did not reveal the interest rate, the new plastic is expected to go a long way towards helping out. The city of New York only provides a gun, a badge, and a bulletproof vest to officers – the individuals are expected to pick up the rest of expensive equipment costs. And despite and apparent agreement from the city, the police department and the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association that salaries are too low (starting officer's pay is just over $36,000), especially in spite of the dangers officers face, there is no indication that they will be raised in the near future. Until then, hopefully rookies will use their Visa cards wisely to make it through academy training and into the big leagues – they aren't called the city's "finest" for nothing!