One of the largest classes in recent history, the new group was not recruited with the assumption that federal financial aid would be available to assist with the cost. According to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, the county, realizing it was understaffed following the retirements of 250 officers in the last couple of years, had budgeted for a large than usual class of recruits.
In total, 16 of the 201 in the class will be carrying Business Cards different from their fellow recruits as they will be serving as officers in small communities throughout the county such as Merrick, Freeport, or Baldwin
Social distancing was maintained and masks worn as 49 of the officers-to-be received the oath in the Police Academy auditorium in Massapequa Park. The rest of the class, also safely apart and masked, viewed the ceremony via video screens in groups of 15 to 25 across 11 classrooms.
Patrick Ryder, Nassau County Police Commissioner, was quoted by Newsday Long Island as saying:
"You will be the first class that has to do remote learning, probably in the state of New York."
Ryder also noted that they would be the first class trained following the new police reforms enacted by the state of New York. Their training will take more than seven months and will exceed many of New York state's mandates.
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