The Los Angeles Police Department celebrated the graduation of 35 new officers at the LAPD Police Academy in Elysian Park on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The class included recruits from various law enforcement agencies, including LAPD, Los Angeles World Airport Police, Los Angeles Port Police, and Los Angeles School Police. Chief of Police Dominic Choi presided over the ceremony, which was attended by families of the graduates. The new officers, who completed 880 hours of training over 24 weeks, will be joining the ranks of the LAPD, the nation’s third largest police force. The graduating class consists of 26 LAPD recruits, with a diverse composition of 21 men and five women, including Hispanic, white, Asian, and Black officers.
The LAPD has faced challenges in recruiting and retaining officers, prompting efforts to increase the number of police officers in the city. In response, the L.A. City Council approved a contract with rank-and-file police officers for significant pay raises and bonuses, costing nearly $1 billion over four years. Mayor Karen Bass has also called for an increase in the number of LAPD officers, setting a goal to reach 9,500 officers by 2023. The graduation ceremony marked an important milestone for the new officers as they begin their careers in law enforcement.
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