Monday morning, the largest police recruit class sat quietly and patiently, waiting for its new boss to walk inside a training classroom.
Police Chief Todd Schmaderer greeted the 57 recruits at the Omaha Public Safety Training Center. In his welcome to the newest class, he outlined expectations from the department as well as the public.
“Always recognize that this uniform means something,” he says. “Always carry it with a great amount of professionalism at all times because everybody [is always watching].”
By far, training officials say the class is the largest – beating last year by two at 55. Of this year’s members, 51 percent are white while blacks and Latinos make up 17 and 16 percent respectively. There are nine female recruits.
“We've had a larger number of females and Latinos and African Americans hired in the last few years,” says Sgt. Jeff Baker.
Also in the mix: veterans, college graduates and others who have some prior law enforcement, according to Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez.
The department says recruits will undergo 23 weeks of intense training prior to entering field training.
Trainers will teach the basics like weapons training and defense tactics.
However, roughly 10 percent of the recruits won’t make it all the way through, Baker says.
But for those who do, Schmaderer had this to say:
“It is the absolutely best career you'll ever have.”
Graduation is scheduled for March 3, 2017.
