The NYPD recruits - in Philly

Bobby Evitts, a hulking ex-Marine, is obsessed with becoming a cop.

His urge was so strong this weekend that he happily shelled out $1,000 to fly from his hometown of Chicago to Philadelphia just to take a police-entrance exam.

But the test had nothing to do with becoming a Philly cop. Instead, Evitts spent $1,000 on airfare and hotel accommodations to try out for the New York Police Department, which held its exam Saturday at Temple University.

Evitts, 29, said he really wanted to take the Philadelphia police entrance test, held in June, but realized he couldn't because of the one-year residency requirement for interested applicants.

New York has none.

"I love this city," said Evitts, clutching his NYPD paperwork Saturday afternoon.

"I love the history. I love everything about it. But people like me can't move to Philadelphia."

Evitts joined about 190 other potential Big Apple cops and whizzed through the nearly three-hour test.

The NYPD hires about 3,000 people per year to keep up with its attrition rate within the 36,000-member department, an official said.

Unlike the Philadelphia Police Department, which has barely advertised its latest recruitment drive, the NYPD markets its Hollywood image in several sizable cities along the East Coast, said the NYPD Lt. Glenn Diresto.

They've held tests in Philadelphia three times during the past five years, Diresto said.

"We have the brand recognition from television," said Diresto. "Plus we are the capital of the world."

Yet at first glance, it seems the glamour of the NYPD comes at a price.

The NYPD requires applicants to have at least two years of college while the Philadelphia Police Department asks only for a high school diploma. NYPD recruits are no younger than 21; Philly's can be as young as 19.

Plus, the starting salary in Philadelphia is nearly $6,000 more than that of a rookie cop in New York, one of the most expensive places to live in the world.

Philly cops said New York's Finest posed no threat.

"There is nothing unusual about this," said Philadelphia police spokesman Sgt. D.F. Pace. "It is just a recruiting tool."

Pace said he wasn't worried that the NYPD would steal away the city's talent at a time when Philadelphia is hurting for cops.

The department had to cancel four recruit classes at the Police Academy in 2005 because of budget constraints, which brought staff levels down to about 6,400, a 40-year low.

Last year, the state and the city pledged $20 million to more hire more officers to raise staffing levels to 6,624 by the winter, police said.

Philadelphia native and NYPD applicant Kevin Hinton, 24, said he took the New York test in the event that he couldn't join his hometown police department.

"My family is here," said Hinton, a sophomore at Lincoln University. "This is my home."

Philadelphia police are seeking applicants until April 20. Those interested can call 215-683-COPS or apply online at

http//www.ppdonline.org/. *