On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, CMPD will graduate 39 police officers. Along with the new officers, the 6 members of the 2nd In-state Lateral Officer Program will join the department. In addition, CMPD will promote 5 patrol officers to the rank of Sergeant.

The 156th Recruit Class has completed 23 weeks of training and will spend the next 14 weeks with a Police Training Officer in their assigned patrol district before they embark on their first patrol on their own. With the addition of these new officers, CMPD will continue to increase police officer presence and visibility at the neighborhood level.

A few highlights of the recruits and their backgrounds include: one worked with a missionary group for 6 years, one recruit served with the Army, Navy, Maryland State Police, USSS Uniform Division, and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, another recruit was born in Ecuador, and one is the son of a retired CMPD Captain.

We would like to send a special invitation to the community as well as City Council and the media to attend the 156th's graduation and promotional ceremony on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 3 pm at the Police & Fire Training Academy, 1770 Shopton Rd.