AUSTIN, Texas — Twenty-five new cadets are joining the Austin Police Department.
The recruits went through eight months of training and celebrated their graduation on Friday. The cadets will now spend more than 50 days with field training officers.
Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson said adding these officers is a huge help.
"We're being intentional about getting more recruits and getting more applicants, and we believe in our next class that's going to begin in February that you'll see the results of our hard work," Henderson said.
Henderson said she expects the next class to be twice as large as this one.
This newest graduation comes as vacancies at the Austin Police Department are getting worse. The department told KVUE it’s short more than 350 officers. Right now, the city is short 365 officers. There are currently just over 1,400 on staff.
The department's newest graduates are happy they can fill some of those vacancies and say they want to help make a difference in the community.
"Thirty-eight years here in Austin, watching it grow, it means a lot because I have seen the streets grow. I have seen buildings come and go people come and go. And being able to serve my community now as an Austin police officer means a lot to me," graduate Andrew Porter said.
"I know we are in the midst of staffing challenges, so this will help. By all means, we do need more," Henderson said.
The next class of APD cadets starts next month.