The Minneapolis Police Department welcomed 24 new police officers in a graduation ceremony earlier this week, bringing department numbers closer to where they were before a recent wave of retirements.
Chief Janeé Harteau on Tuesday tweeted her congratulations to the latest batch of officers — half of whom are new cadets and half of whom are lateral hires from other departments.
The new officers bring the department's total to 823 officers, according to officials, after the force shrank last summer to 770 officers, one of the lowest numbers in 25 years.
Another class of 26 officers graduated in September, and another 12 cadets are making their way through the Police Academy, with an expected graduation date in February.
The department also aims to hire 28 community service officers and bring in between 20 and 30 cadets in January, officials said.
Libor Jany
