A Total of 46 Recruits Accepted Offer Letters This Week and Will Start Academy on December 16
Friday, December 6, 2024 — Cleveland — Mayor Justin M. Bibb and Police Chief Dorothy Todd announced that 46 recruits accepted offer letters this week to join the 158th Cleveland Division of Police Academy beginning Monday, December 16. This class and others this year have produced a combined 134 recruits that entered the Academy – the most in a single year since 2019. A class in March brought in 52 recruits, which was larger than the previous four classes combined. Both that class and this current class exceed the historical averages of recruits hired (~ 45) and recruits graduated (~ 42) dating back to the 1st Police Academy in 1937. Of the 46 current recruits, five are between 40 to 54 years old – all of whom would’ve previously been ineligible had it not been for the Administration’s legislative change to increase the maximum age to become an officer.
Recruitment responsibilities were shifted from the Department of Public Safety to the Division of Police earlier this year under new leadership to streamline and improve processes – a key decision that helped land this year’s large classes. Under previous leadership, the number of recruits entering the Academy totaled 22 (in 2023), 33 (in 2022), 86 (in 2021), and 87 (in 2020).
This year’s recruitment success correlates with the first full year of Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative – the most comprehensive violence reduction and law enforcement enhancement plan the City of Cleveland has ever seen. RISE is a portfolio of multiple key investments, partnerships and enforcement strategies, technological advancements, and other Administration-led efforts to combat high levels of crime and to improve recruitment and retention within the Division. Since launching RISE, the Bibb Administration hosted the City’s first-ever Public Safety Summit announcing a 50% pay increase, $5,000 sign-on bonuses, fast-tracked promotions, and other marked improvements for recruits; increased pay up to 25% for current officers, including a substantial increase last October that made the Division’s top patrol officers the highest paid among the largest cities in the state; raised the maximum age to become a police officer; and hosted multiple expedited hiring events to streamline the application process.
“I’m excited to welcome these 46 individuals who have made the selfless commitment to serve The Land. Another large class coinciding with the first full year of our RISE initiative means one thing – our recruitment efforts are working,” said Mayor Bibb. “We are optimistic that we will maintain this sustained level of success going forward as we continue working on making the Cleveland Division of Police not only a premier employer of choice in the state, but one of the best in the country.”
The Cleveland Police Academy is a full-time training program running Monday through Friday for approximately 7 ½ months, which is due to hours required by the state. This schedule meets and exceeds the standards set by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, earning the designation as a Gold Star Academy. Additional hours are included to address mandates of the consent decree and to ensure recruits are prepared to provide constitutionally-sound policing. The curriculum covers a wide range of skills as recruits will complete a host of courses focused on an array of topics – including first aid, traffic control, patrol techniques, search and seizure laws, crisis response, crime scene processing, evidence collection, witness interviews, victim assistance, and community engagement. The program is designed to equip recruits with the knowledge and skills needed to serve the community professionally, constitutionally, and effectively.
“The Cleveland Division of Police remains steadfast in our commitment to recruit qualified individuals to serve our city,” said Chief Todd. “I am proud of the efforts our members have made to attract candidates eager to serve, and I am confident that we have recruited future officers who will uphold the highest standards our community deserves. A career with the Cleveland Division of Police is both challenging and deeply rewarding, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others every day."
Although police departments across the nation are experiencing staffing shortages, the City of Cleveland’s 158th Academy class (46) is currently larger than recent class sizes in St. Louis (12), New Orleans(26), Pittsburgh (42), and Milwaukee (33) – a city whose population is nearly double that of Cleveland. Recruits are expected to graduate and start basic patrol in August.
The Division of Police will be hosting another expedited hiring event that will take place on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th at City Hall. Those who are interested are encouraged to pre-register online. Anyone who has questions should contact the Recruitment Unit at (216)-623-5233.
Other RISE efforts led by the Bibb Administration include expanding the City’s SAFE SMART CLE camera sharing program; expanding ShotSpotter technology to all five neighborhood police districts; and expanding partnerships with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies for additional resources and personnel towards targeted hotspots and coordinated violence reduction tactics. These strategic efforts and coordinated operations have produced significant, tangible results leading to hundreds of arrests, hundreds of gun seizures, thousands of pills and dangerous drugs removed from the streets, numerous stolen vehicle recoveries, and several lives saved. More than 3,000 cameras have been integrated and over 1,300 cameras have been registered through the SAFE SMART CLE program – an approximate 1,700% increase since the program was expanded. The Administration continues to urge residents, businesses, and community partners to sign up.
As part of RISE, Mayor Bibb launched his Summer Safety Plan earlier this year which led to more than 700 arrests, nearly 400 guns recovered, and over 4,300 traffic tickets issued. These efforts resulted in major crime reduction as murders decreased by 37%, grand theft-motor vehicles went down 27%, and robberies and felonious assaults both declined by 13%.
