Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson today congratulated the newest class of 196 Police Officers and 98 newly promoted Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Commanders, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Evidence Technicians.

"Today, with their graduation or promotion, our officers are not only joining or renewing their commitment to a proud community of brothers and sisters, but they're also fulfilling a sense of duty to the city we all love," said Mayor Lightfoot. "As they embark or continue on this journey, I want all of Chicago's officers to know that your city will be with you every step of the way."

The 196 new police officers graduating includes 68% from minority backgrounds, with 44% identifying as Hispanic, 16% African-American and 8% Asian-American. In addition, 31% of graduates are female. Approximately 36% percent of the officers graduated from Chicago Public Schools and 13% percent are military veterans. Before graduating, police recruits spent six months at the Police Academy and they will now begin their one-year probationary period, which includes three months of training with a Field Training officer and district patrol functions.

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.

"The officers and supervisors that will be graduating have an important job ahead of them," said Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson. "Keeping Chicago safe is not an easy or glamorous career. These individuals have chosen this life of public service, and I am eager to see how they will contribute to making our city a safer place to live, work and play."

This on-the-job training comes after six months of intense course work at the academy. These courses are based on a new curriculum that is modeled on what officers experience in the field. Officers also study crisis de-escalation tactics, community building, the appropriate use of force and more.

In addition to the new police recruits graduating, CPD is celebrating new promotions, including the promotion of Chief Dana Alexander to the Bureau of Internal Affairs and Chief Salvador Avila to the Bureau of Organized Crime. The ceremony will also recognize 98 promotions including four Deputy Chiefs, seven Commanders, 15 Lieutenants, 50 Sergeants and 20 Evidence Technicians. Prior to the promotion, Sergeants spend six weeks training in the Academy and 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. Today's graduation class will build on the Chicago Police Department's two-year hiring plan to add 970 additional officers, which was completed last year.

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