CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Police Department (CPD) Interim Superintendent Charlie Beck today congratulated three graduating classes of 197 Police Officers, as well as 125 newly promoted Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Commanders, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Field Training Officers, Evidence Technicians and Police Technicians.

"This new class of officers may hail from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each and every one of them are united in their call to serve this great city and protect its residents,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The men and women we celebrate and honor today are at the forefront of our public safety efforts, and they deserve not only our admiration, but our commitment to providing them with the best training, resources and support this City can provide.”

Among the new class of 197 new police officers, 69% are from minority backgrounds, with 39% identifying as Hispanic, 22% African-American and 7% Asian-American. Additionally, 29% of graduates are female and approximately 41% percent of the officers graduated from Chicago Public Schools, and 11% percent are military veterans.

“It’s encouraging to see the recent graduating classes of new Chicago police officers increasingly reflective of the diverse communities they serve and protect,” said CPD Interim Superintendent Charlie Beck. “All Chicagoans should have a vested interest in the public safety of our fellow residents, and I’m particularly proud of the men and women who have answered the call to public service.”

Prior to graduation, police recruits spent six months at the Police Academy. These courses are based on a new curriculum modeled on what officers experience in the field. Officers also study crisis de-escalation tactics, community building, the appropriate use of force and more.

The first three months of their new career in law enforcement will begin under the tutelage of a Field Training Officer. These specially-trained officers share their experiences with the new graduates, walking them through everything from filling out paperwork to apprehending an offender.

In addition to the new police recruits graduating, CPD is celebrating 125 new promotions, including the promotion of Bureau of Internal Affairs Chief Karen Konow. The ceremony will also recognize the promotions of two Deputy Chiefs, four Commanders, two Captains, six Lieutenants, 56 Sergeants, 24 Field Training Officers, 20 Evidence Technicians and 10 Police Technicians. Prior to the promotion, Sergeants spend six weeks training in the Academy, while Lieutenants spend five weeks training.

As the city celebrates the next generation of leaders in the Chicago Police Department, new officers continue to graduate from the Police Academy every year. With more than 13,000 sworn officers, the Chicago Police Department currently has the highest staffing level in the past decade.

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