BRIDGEPORT, CT (July 11, 2012) – Thirty trainees, 21 of which are slated to become Bridgeport officers, began training this week at the department’s Police Training Academy on Newfield Avenue. The Bridgeport trainees include six City residents.

A 2011 $5.6 million federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant will pay the salaries and benefits for the next three years for 20 of the Bridgeport officer trainees.

“Public safety is a top priority for my administration, and these additional officers will help make our streets safer for everyone,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “I’m confident that we have selected a group of trainees who will put forward a tremendous effort in the academy to learn what Chief Gaudett, their fellow officers and the citizens of Bridgeport expect from them as a member of the Bridgeport Police Department.”

The cadets were sworn in today by Mayor Bill Finch.  The officers will be in training for the next six months, and are expected to graduate in January 2013. Upon graduation, the new officers will be under the tutelage of a field training officer, and will be on probation for eight months. The recruits were chosen based on the testing conducted by the City’s Civil Service department in December 2010. The first class of recruits taken from that hiring list began training in April 2011. Recruits from surrounding towns include: four from Stratford, and one each from Milford, North Branford, Naugatuck and Norwalk.