The 27 recruits of Long Beach Police Academy Class 87 graduated Thursday afternoon. Photos by Brittany Woolsey
Six months of tiring exercises, tests and more is over for the 27 recruits of the Long Beach Police Academy training program.
The men and women of Class #87, 24 of whom will serve the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), graduated from the program Thursday afternoon. Two additional graduating officers will serve the Gardena Police Department and one officer will serve the Modesto Police Department.
“Many people, including background investigators, academy instructors and administrative personnel have worked very hard to ensure the success of Class 87,” said LBPD Commander Randy Allen. “Twenty-seven-and-a-half weeks ago, the recruit training staff was given the challenge of taking a large group of men and women with diverse backgrounds and experiences, each with their own unique personality, and developing them into a cohesive team of competent, functional and professional police officers.”
As they stood in their spotless black uniforms, the graduates tried to maintain straight faces but, at times, some smiles shined through. And rightfully so.
Out of a pool of 4,000 applicants, only 40 were chosen for the academy. Out of those recruits, only 27 graduated.
Academy Sgt. Schirmer, who has been an academy sergeant since November 2012, said at a media day in July that the number of recruits is determined by the budget allotted by the city, as well as the number of positions they have open. He said this year’s class is smaller than last year, when the program started again after a four-year hiatus.
Before being accepted into the program, recruits had to prove they would be 21 by graduation and pass a series of psychological and physical tests, as well as background checks.
Once you’re in the program, there’s really no room for leniancy, Schirmer said. If you fail six written tests, you’re out. If you fail six physical trainings, you’re out.
Following graduation, the new officers will enter an additional year-long field training program and are on probationary status.
Paul Micah Del Rosario, the Class 87 president, said he was proud of his class for graduating.
“I remember that lower gut feeling that we had a few weeks into the academy,” he said. “I remember all those push-ups and burpees. I remember the gas house. I remember being peppersprayed and I remember being tazered for five seconds. I remember the nights when we would get no sleep. It’s been a long six months, and now we’re here. This weekend, we start a new chapter in our lives and will be serving our communities. For most of us, this is the most important thing we’ll do. We have not and will not let you down.”
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