The Springfield Police Department says its 77th Springfield Police Academy is the most diverse in the history of the department in terms of gender, race and ethnicity.
The 21 recruits are from all over the country, including New York, Utah, North Carolina, Colorado and the Midwest. They have a variety of work and education experience including military, corrections, medical and previous law enforcement.
The recruits will spend six months completing 1100 hours of “intense law enforcement training,” according to SPD in a statement.
The Springfield Police Department has been dealing with a shortage of officers and other employees in recent years. SPD spokesperson Cris Swaters said, as of Monday, there were 43 sworn vacancies, and, as of May 30, there were 19.5 non-sworn vacancies.
Recruitment is underway for the 78th Academy, which is set to begin January 2024. You can apply online at gospd.com.
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