MPD celebrates diverse graduating class of recruits
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A new group of police recruits has ended class work. Now the schooling begins on the streets of Milwaukee.
65 Milwaukee police recruits proudly donned their uniforms and white gloves for graduation on Thursday, January 17th. They completed 24 weeks of intense training -- and are now ready to begin work in the community.
"They're about to get a PhD in human nature and see the best and worst in people," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Graduate Matthew Helwer says after the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut, recruits got a better sense of what to serve and protect really means.
"We are now ready here to serve the people of Milwaukee," said Helwer.
This is not only a big class of graduates, but also a very diverse one. There are whites, blacks, Hispanics, Hmong, a Bosnian native and military veterans. While it may not be the largest group of women in a single class, 12 new women are now officers with the Milwaukee Police Department.
About a third of the graduates have family members who are also in law enforcement. One joins her husband; one joins his father.