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Swearing-In Ceremony Held For Largest NYPD Recruiting Class Since 2006

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Police Commissioner Ray Kelly administered the oath of office to the largest class of New York City Police Department recruits in five years Wednesday.

The 1,635 newcomers also made up one of the most diverse classes, with recruits coming from 55 different countries, including India, Vietnam and Romania.

"A lot [of people] that don't speak English, they really need people to help them. And I'm proud that today I can become part the police," one recruit from Malaysia told 1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan.

1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan Speaks With Some Of The New Recruits

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Thirty percent of the new hires are college graduates and 22 recruits have advanced degrees, including Douglas Schneider, who has a law degree.

"I think there's significantly more qualified people who are standing right and left of me when I took the oath," he said.

The police department also said that 71 recruits served with the United States military in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the new class reflected "the diverse population it will help protect."

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