The Minneapolis Police Department welcomed 24 new police officers in a graduation ceremony earlier this week, bringing the department closer to where it was before a recent wave of retirements.
Chief Janeé Harteau on Tuesday tweeted out her congratulations to the latest batch of newly-hired officers, which brought the department's total to 823 officers, according to officials.
The new officers, half of whom are new cadets and half lateral hires from other departments, represented the latest additions to a force that earlier this summer shrunk to 770 officers, one of the lowest numbers in 25 years.
Another class, of 26 officers, graduated in September.
Officials said that another 12 cadets are making their way through the 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.
