Prometheus 6

An arbitration panel dropped the NYPD starting salary to $25,100 starting with the class of January 2006. The pay jumps to $32,813 once the new cops graduate from the academy.

165 police recruits quit, leaving 'Impact' program at risk

Police recruits continue to bail out of the NYPD's training academy - putting at risk a crimefighting technique credited with slashing the city's murder rate.

Statistics show 165 members of July's 1,131-strong entering class have dropped out - about 14.6%.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has told the City Council the department's successful Operation Impact program will be at risk if the NYPD can't graduate at least 800 recruits per class.

If the attrition rate holds among the remaining 966 recruits, the NYPD class will fall below 800 graduates.

Rookies said the reality of the $25,100 starting salary has sent them running out the door.

"You get those first paychecks, and suddenly you realize that doing the right thing - protecting your city - doesn't pay anything," said a 27-year-old recruit who dropped out after two months for a better-paying job in a shoe store.

"All your patriotism goes out the window when you can't pay the rent," the former recruit said.

The attrition rate is higher than the two-month dropout rate for the January 2007 and July 2006 classes. Those classes lost 11.5% and 13.6%, respectively, in the first two months and 23% and 20% by graduation.