The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has inducted 71 new recruits into the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD). This graduation, held at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, N.J., marks the culmination of an intensive outreach program designed to select highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.
The new officers received their official PAPD shields and identification earlier in the week at a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan. This location serves as a reminder of the department's enduring mission and honors the sacrifices made by previous officers, including the 37 PAPD members who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole highlighted the significance of this induction: "The Port Authority Police Department stands among the most respected law enforcement agencies in the country, charged with protecting some of America’s most vital infrastructure."
Port Authority Executive Rick Cotton expressed pride in both the new recruits and the recruitment process: "We proudly welcome these 71 new officers into the ranks of the PAPD and are especially proud of the extensive outreach effort to ensure a high-quality pool of recruits."
Chief Security Officer Greg Ehrie addressed current security challenges: "These officers are stepping into service at a pivotal moment, when the threats we face are growing more complex, more widespread, and more tech-savvy than ever before."
Superintendent Edward Cetnar praised the graduating class for their accomplishment: "Graduating from the Port Authority Police Academy is no small accomplishment. It demands relentless discipline, unshakable resilience, and exceptional strength of character."
The newly inducted class reflects diversity with representation across African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian communities, and women making up a quarter of it—the highest female representation for any PAPD class. The group also brings linguistic diversity with nine languages spoken among them.
This cohort joins amid a record $1 billion investment approved by Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners for safety and security operations aimed at enhancing overall security measures against traditional and emerging threats.
Recruits completed rigorous training over 26 weeks covering various aspects like state laws, police procedures, counterterrorism techniques while emphasizing cultural sensitivity and ethical responsibility. Part of their training included meeting Holocaust survivor Maud Dahme to foster empathy and community engagement.
