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67 APD cadets to graduate from academy amid Austin officer shortage

After eight months of training, 67 cadets will graduate from the Austin Police Academy on Friday.

AUSTIN, Texas — After eight weeks of intensive training, more Austin police officers will be hitting the streets soon.

Sixty-seven cadets from the 141st cadet class and 142nd modified class will graduate from the Austin Police Department's training academy on Friday. This comes in the midst of an officer shortage in the department

In November, Ken Casaday, president of the Austin Police Association said there were 170 vacancies in the department.

The shortage prompted APD Chief Brian Manley to put a freeze on transfers of patrol officers until April.

Marisa Giglio is one of the cadets graduating. For anyone looking to become an officer, she said it takes hard work.

"Don't give up. Put 110% into everything you do and just keep going. It's the most fulfilling thing I've ever done and I'm only a cadet," said Giglio. 

During the eight-month-long training program, cadets learn about crisis intervention, community policing, driving, legal issues, leadership, defensive tactics and physical fitness, according to the department. 

The next cadet class starts in February. However, if Spencer Cronk, the Austin City Manager, does not complete the external audit concerning allegations of racism and misconduct that surfaced against the department last year, June's cadet class will be delayed.

RELATED: 'Multi-pronged' investigation into bigotry, discrimination within Austin police approved by city council

With a spotlight on the department right now, Giglio said it has pushed this graduating class to be more prepared.

"I think you are going to get an even better quality of a cadet coming through just because what's going on in the media, or what's being said. These people still want to be here," she explained. "I think that speaks volumes about the people coming through the academy right now." 

The graduation will be held at 2 p.m. at Great Hills Baptist Church

RELATED VIDEO: Austin police cadet class could be put on hold

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