Governor Gavin Newsome | Twitter Website
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) swore in 119 new law enforcement officers today, marking the largest class of graduates in over two years. This event is part of the administration's ongoing effort to recruit 1,000 new officers.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the addition of these officers during a ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. "I am grateful to these officers for their service and commitment to protecting Californians and our neighborhoods. As this class advances to posts throughout the Golden State, they should do so with pride, knowing that they represent the best of California as public servants dedicated to making a positive difference in their communities," said Governor Newsom.
The graduation follows an intensive 26-week training program, with the new officers being sworn in by CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. These officers will now report to one of the 102 CHP Area offices across California.
The increase in cadet numbers is attributed to recent recruitment efforts and hiring investments, including a new recruitment web series titled “Cadets.” With today's graduates, a total of 528 officers have joined CHP in 2024, surpassing last year's numbers. Since 2023, more than 900 cadets have been sworn in as CHP officers.
At the CHP Academy, cadet training includes courses on nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism and ethics, cultural diversity, mental illness response, and crisis intervention techniques.
Interest in joining CHP has surged since June 2022 when a multiyear recruitment campaign was launched. In the first half of 2024 alone, over 11,700 cadet applications were received—a 58% increase from the same period in 2022. To manage this influx, three Academy classes are being held simultaneously for the first time in CHP history. The next graduation is scheduled for November 15, 2024.
California has invested significant resources since 2019 to enhance public safety and support local law enforcement agencies. In line with California’s Real Public Safety Plan announced last year by Governor Newsom, there has been an unprecedented investment aimed at combating organized retail crime and improving overall public safety across the state.
A recording of today's ceremony is available online.
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