Forty-five men and women joined the San Francisco Police Department as new officers Friday, officials with the police department said.
The new officers were expected to begin training Saturday, according to the police department. The graduation ceremony took place at 6 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Auditorium at 2850 19th Ave in San Francisco.
The officers represented the department’s 241st graduating class. That class includes one officer with a doctorate of law degree, two with master’s degrees, nine with bachelor’s degrees and one with an associate degree.
Twelve different languages are spoken among the officers who graduated Friday. Six of the new officers served in the U.S. armed forces.
“With 45 men and women from diverse backgrounds, many bilingual, and from different points in their career joining the San Francisco Police Department, these proud newly sworn officers will hit our streets to keep San Francisco one of the safest big cities in our country,” said Mayor Ed Lee.
Lee added that violent crime is at historic lows and neighborhoods are safer.
“And it will be my challenge, and my commitment, to make sure that our city’s first responders stay and live in San Francisco by building housing that is affordable to our workforce and working families,” Lee said.
Keith Burbank, Bay City News
