August 18, 2008
The 12 new recruits who started the CMPD Academy today are already accomplished law enforcement professionals. In fact, collectively, these recruits bring more than 75 years of law enforcement experience to the CMPD. They are members of CMPD's 156th, the department's first class made up entirely of sworn officers from around the state who want to be Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers.
Since these recruits are already sworn in the State of North Carolina, their class is just three weeks long instead of the standard 26 weeks for regular recruit classes. This abbreviated Academy will provide the officers with essential training and information, including policies and standard operating procedures, unique to the CMPD.
"We have always had some people in our regular recruit classes who already had sworn status, and they had to sit through the same 26-week training as a brand new recruit," says Captain Mike Campagna, Training Director. "We knew that didn't make much sense or take advantage of the experience these officers bring with them. The lateral class is specifically designed to make it easier for officers to become CMPD officers. The benefit to the community is that we get a new group of seasoned professionals on the street more quickly," he added.
These officers are scheduled to graduate September 4, 2008 and they will be assigned to the various patrol divisions.
