SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department on Friday welcomed a new class of officers.
Cheers erupted at the Carver Community Cultural Center as the cadets of Class 2016-A received their badges and diplomas.
The graduates said the seven-month training was intense.
"It was a lot. The academics, the physical, coming home every day, thinking I have to do it all over again. But it was all worth it, though," Philip Basile, a graduate, said.
The cadets graduated at a time when law enforcement and the communities they serve are at odds in many cities across the country.
"We're all trying to do the best that we can and trying to learn ... because of everything that's going on in the community," Nicolette Muniz, a graduate, said.
Police Chief William McManus said that the crisis intervention training the cadets learned will help them serve the community with compassion, integrity, fairness and respect.
"If you treat people well, they're going to help you solve crimes, they're going to respect the Police Department, they're going to support the Police Department," McManus said. "And that's what we have here right now in San Antonio. But we want to build on that foundation, continue to build on it."
McManus said the department will welcome another cadet class next month.