DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Detroit welcomed its latest group of police officers with a graduation ceremony held at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. These 34 new officers were officially sworn in by Police Chief James E. White, marking the culmination of their rigorous six-month training at the Detroit Police Department Training Center.
Chief White, a seasoned veteran of the department since 1996 and its leader since 2021, discussed the impact the new group of officers will have on the force and the community. These graduates “are joining the department at a critical time and helping achieve numbers that the city hasn’t seen since 1966,” White said.
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Board of Police Commissioners Chairperson QuanTez Pressley introduced the graduates with a call to action. He encouraged them to be attentive to the community’s needs and to use their positions to build trust.
“Remember that the badge that you wear carries immense weight,” Pressley said, “when you wear that badge, people should not feel fear. When they see you in your badge, they should be provoked to hope.”
Class speaker Matthew Pensyl, chosen for his exemplary leadership, spoke passionately about Detroit’s resilience and the high standards the city sets for its officers: “This city has been knocked down, cast aside and underestimated, and yet, it is rising again stronger than ever,” he said.
Pensyl, along with Clark Robinson, received the Scholastics & Firearms Award, while Cameron Richardson was honored with the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Outstanding Performance Award, according to The Detroit News.
The graduation also marked progress in addressing the department’s staffing challenges. With these new officers and about 100 more currently in training, Chief White expressed optimism about reaching full staffing levels soon.
“We are within a very small number of open positions,” White said, “and we are going to be fully staffed very soon.”
During his address, Chief White lauded the department’s recent success during the NBA draft weekend, where despite hosting 775,000 visitors, the city experienced no significant incidents.
These achievements reflect the ongoing efforts to improve safety and community trust in Detroit, a mission that these new officers are now a vital part of.
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