About Us
Since 1998, The Key has prepared NYPD police officers, sergeants, and lieutenants for promotional exams. The Key is the longest-running, most successful, and most respected promotional school in the business.
Experience
The Key Team comprises the most experienced, dedicated, and knowledgeable police executives in the test prep business. Our team has included police executives who have served the Department as NYPD Police Commissioner, Chief of Staff, Borough Commanders, Precinct Commanders, Squad Commanders, and Borough Crime Commanders. Moreover, The Key team members wrote a prior NYPD promotional exam and commanded the Office of Management Orders and Directive Section (MODS), the unit that writes and updates the Patrol and Administrative Guides.
The Key team has an unparalleled educational background, with our team members having master's degrees from Harvard University (2), New York University, and a Juris Doctorate from New York Law School. Finally, The Key staff has scored in the top hundred on all exams and includes a member with the # 2 score on a prior Lieutenant's exam and the # 3 score on a prior Sergeant’s exam. The Key believes that its team members' field performance, educational background, and proven results on promotional exams make The Key a clear choice for students.
Value
The Key was the first school to provide easy-to-read summaries of the Patrol and Administrative Guides and the only school to provide easy-to-read summaries of NYS Penal Law and Legal Bureau Bulletins. The Key provides promotional students with the following:
The Key Lesson Plans
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Easy-to-read summaries of the Patrol Guide and Administrative Guide
The Key Legal Guide, FREE hard copy with a mini binder to facilitate studying.
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Summary of every current Legal Bureau Bulletin and New York State Penal Law
The Key Online Promotion System (KOPS)
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Virtual classroom 24/7 Access to class videos and audio.
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The Key Essentials (Very testable)​
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Review of most tested procedures and recent interim Orders
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The Key Library provides digital and downloadable copies of the following:
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Patrol Guide, Administrative Guide, Legal Bureau Bulletins, New York State Penal
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Law, NYPD Crime Reporting Guide, and NYPD Stop and Question Matrix.
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Proven Results
Although experience and value are essential, results matter, and The Key has consistently delivered for its students. On the recent Sergeant's Exam, The Key outperformed the competition. Our students were prepared for the exam and performed exceptionally well, as shown in the results below:
• 7 out of the top 10 scorers were students of The Key,
• 68 of the top 100 scorers were students of The Key,
• 71% of the top 1,500 scorers were students of The Key.
Integrity and Loyalty to the NYPD
The Key provides value, guidance, and support for our students. The Key has a proven history of going the extra mile for members of our NYPD family. After the most recent Sergeant's exam, The Key was the only prep school to provide, free of charge, Protest Review Sessions to all test takers to help formulate protests, regardless of whether they were Key students. The Key also provides free courses and material to members of service deployed to active duty in the United States military.
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The Key Team
Meet our team of experienced professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.