Added Officers Will Put Mesquite Police Above "Authorized Strength"
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MESQUITE (CBSDFW.COM) - The Mesquite Police Department announced Wednesday the addition of 16 new police officer recruits.
These officers will bring the total number of sworn officers to 231.
These 16 additional officers will continue to put the department above its authorized strength of 1.5 police officers per 1,000 residents as outlined in the City Charter.
The 16 recruits will begin the department's police academy October 12.
Four of the recruits are women, which is the most ever for the department.
The recruits are scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2016.
These recruits will be the fourth class since the Mesquite Police Department started its own academy in 2013. The internal academy has graduated 23 police officers since its inception. Approximately four percent of the law enforcement agencies in Texas operate their own academy.
Police Chief Derek Rohde said, "We are excited about this opportunity to enhance public safety in the Mesquite community. The challenges presented by impending retirements is significant, but is tempered by the department's success of recruiting its next generation of officers."
More than 50 Mesquite police officers eligible to retire.
This represents about 23 percent of the department's sworn positions.
Chief Rohde indicated those statistics are a strong statement to the longevity and dedication of Mesquite police officers.
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