NEW YORK, NY January 25, 2007 —New York's Police Commissioner defended the city's undercover officers and operations during a Council hearing spurred by the shooting of Sean Bell. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: The Council heard from Police Commissioner Ray Kelly that applicants for undercover assignments have to have at least 2 years on the force, an above average arrest record, pass a thorough screening process followed by 3 weeks special training. Chief Anthony Izzo, heads the NYPD's Organized Crime Control Bureau that is responsible for their training. Izzo says many applicants don't make it.

IZZO: For the last 23 months for example there were 271 applicants to the undercover program. 110 of them were disapproved and a fair number actually withdrew of their own volition.

REPOrTER: The Department contends that undercover work has been critical in reducing the city's crime rate to historic lows. Several council members said the undercover units needed to be more knowledgeable about the neighborhoods they were operating in. For WNYC, I’m Bob Hennelly.