By Tiffany Williams –
Family, friends and members of the Boston Police Department gathered on Friday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to graduate and welcome 133 newly sworn officers.
Class 63-23 of the Boston Police Academy is one of the most diverse class of recruits from the Police Academy with 60 percent of graduates being people of color. Fifty nine of the recruits speak another language other than English, representing 16 other languages.
The recruit class also includes the first Somali officers and an officer who is hard of hearing.
The new officers include 18 who served in the military, with 14 veterans who served in the National Guard, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, or U.S. Marine Corps.
The newly sworn officers had 29 weeks of training in physical, tactical, and classroom activities. Additionally, class 63-23 volunteered at and attended several community events, working directly with the constituents they will serve. They attended community meetings, recreational programming with youth and older Bostonians, park openings, welcomed students to schools, and visited houses of worship.
“This recruit class truly represents the City that they will be swearing an oath to serve and protect,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. “Not just in race, ethnicity, and culture; but in lived experience and commitment to serving all communities with fairness and respect. Congratulations to the class of Class 63-23 for the tremendous hard work and sacrifice that it took to become Boston Police Officers.”