It was graduation day for a group of recruits from the Syracuse Police Academy.
Fifty-seven men and women were given their badges during a ceremony at the Palace Theater. Among them is Dan Medlock, who is joining the Syracuse Police Department. He says all the scrutiny police officers have been given in recent months was on his mind during the training.
"It’s definitely comes to mind a lot. But with this city, Syracuse, knowing there’s great people in the community, to walk with the police and not against them, I think we can make the community overall a better place," he said.
Medlock is one of 32 officers joining the Syracuse Police Department. They will hit Syracuse’s streets next week as the city bolsters its 400-plus strong police force.
"I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else in my life. I’ve grown up with police in family. And now, that fire is even more right now, bigger than it’s ever been," said Dan Fahey, another new Syracuse officer.
Fahey and Medlock are part of one of the department’s largest and most diverse recruitment classes.
Recruits from nine other departments also completed training. The academy began in August. Along with Syracuse class, officers from nine other regional police departments completed the academy today.
