Photo by Andrew Augustus
WPRO News and the Associated Press
The Providence Police Department swore in 53 new police officers Friday during a ceremony.
“Its one of the most, if not the most amazing accomplishment of my life, and I know for the 52 recruits, we are just ecstatic,” said Academy Class Leader Christopher Benoit.
Fifty-three new officers graduated Friday morning from the 67th Providence Police Department Training Academy and be sworn in as members of the department. Once sworn in, the department will have 444 officers.
It’s the largest and most diverse class in department history.
“Surely an exciting and exhilarating day,” said Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements, “Not only for the family members, certainly the 67th recruit academy, but also the entire Providence Police Department.”
The police department says the class includes 46 men and seven women. The graduates speak 14 different languages and the department says 22 are members of minority groups.
Nearly 40 percent of the population in Providence is Hispanic, compared with 11 percent of the police force. The department says nine of the new recruits are Hispanic.
