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For most New York City government jobs, living within the five boroughs is a prerequisite for getting hired, but there are a few exceptions under state law. Police officers, for example, are allowed to live in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam or Orange counties, and a slim majority of NYPD uniformed officers take advantage of that flexibility to live in the surrounding suburbs.
A growing number of elected officials and political candidates said that distance worsens community relations. That’s why state Sen. Kevin Parker from Brooklyn and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz from Queens have sponsored legislation that would require all newly hired NYPD officers to live in the city. The measure has broad support among New York City political leaders. In March, the City Council voted overwhelmingly for a resolution calling for the bill’s passage. Five mayoral candidates – Maya Wiley, Ray McGuire, Shaun Donovan, Kathryn Garcia and Andrew Yang – support the reform. State Attorney General Letitia James also recommended New York City police residency requirements be instituted in a July 2020 report.