Port Authority To Welcome First Police Academy Class In 4 Years

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police force is hiring.

The agency plans to hire up to 175 new officers from its academy's upcoming class, which will begin in August.

This is the second largest police academy class in the agency's history and the first class since April of 2009, according to the Port Authority Police.

"Our goal is to balance the need for an effective security system to safeguard Port Authority facilities and transit assets while maximizing every dollar spent on security," said Chief Security Officer Joe Dunne. "The hiring of this agency's first new recruits in four years will help ensure we have enough officers to do the job, and will help us more cost-effectively manage overtime expenditures while fulfilling our mission."

The agency said about 2,800 eligible candidates will be notified about the new class and the steps necessary to complete an application.

Once the recruits are selected, they will train for about 26 weeks, according to the Port Authority.

The training of up to 175 new officers will help the agency with its ongoing restructuring efforts.

There are currently about 1,600 members of the PAPD, who are responsible for the agency's land, sea, air and rail facilities.

The Port Authority operates five airports, four bridges, two tunnels, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the PATH train system, the World Trade Center site and ports in New York and New Jersey.

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