PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Twenty-nine new Philadelphia police officers were sworn in Friday at Temple University, making a small dent in the understaffing that has plagued the department since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I thank you for choosing to serve and protect your city,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. “We hope to attract more high-quality candidates like you.”
Their choice to become police officers seems all the more remarkable, given the challenges the force faces, from the level of gun violence they’re sworn to fight, to community distrust after incidents like the recent fatal shooting of a driver in Fairhill and the dismissal of the officer involved.
For Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, the challenges made the new class all the more inspiring.
“Regardless of all the adversity we’ve experienced together, as a department and with the community, there’s still hope because the future leaders are still sitting in these chairs and they’re receiving the best training possible and they still want to do it.”
Newly minted officer Ryan Devlin, part of the 399th class of the Philadelphia Police Academy to graduate, explained his decision to join the force.
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“I think people need someone in their community that really wants to help them,” Devlin said. “I think everyone in our class really wants to go out there and help everyone and we want to be a positive change out there.”
His father, Dennis, admits he’s a little nervous.
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s a tough job. I understand the sacrifice he’s going to make. He’s a good kid. He’s got a lot of empathy. I think that’s what they need out there so … I’m proud of him.”
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