Staff report

Seventeen officers returned to the Suffolk Police Department after graduating from the 46th session of Chesapeake Public Safety Academy’s Basic Police School on Monday night.

The newly graduated officers have completed 25 weeks of training that included firearms, driving, defensive tactics, accident investigation, criminal and traffic laws, patrol techniques and first aid and CPR.

The new officers range from 21 to 43 years old, and includes 11 men and six women.

Officers Jennifer Pond and Audeene Ott were recognized as finishing second and third overall in the class. Pond also received the Top Boot Award, which is given to an officer deemed by fellow classmates as a most likely back up in a crisis situation.

Chief William Freeman is appreciative to have the new officers on board.

&uot;I’m elated at the arrival of these 17 recruits,&uot; Freeman said. &uot;They are a welcomed addition to the department.&uot;

Major Larry Wilson said the department is looking forward to the new recruits hitting the streets.

&uot;I am very proud of each of the graduates and those honors that were captured by the Suffolk officers,&uot; he said.

&uot;We are looking forward to the committed contributions that each will make to the citizens of Suffolk and the department.&uot;

The officers have all been assigned to Uniform Patrol for the field portion of their training, and will rotate through a series of training officers before their 12-week training is complete.

The department will benefit significantly from the increased manpower, once training is complete.

This class of officers is the last to graduate from the Chesapeake Academy. Future classes will matriculate at the Hampton Roads Training Academy.