Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré, Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Associate Director Cheryl Burrell, RI Department of Administration, Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity, members of the Providence Police Department and community partners joined this morning at the Washington Park Community Center to announce the official kick-off of the Providence Police Department’s 68th Academy Recruitment Drive.
“I am proud to launch this recruitment campaign for the 68th Providence Police Academy,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “The Providence Police Department is actively recruiting men and women to serve the city, and we are committed to ensuring the highest level of talent and diversity in our recruits. We call on the community to help identify individuals who have what it takes to become one of Providence’s finest.”
“We are looking to recruit a bold and diverse class to serve in the 68th Providence Police Academy. The men and women who are selected will go through rigorous training before becoming one of “Providence’s Finest,” said Commissioner Paré. “The Providence Police Department has a proud legacy that has served the community for over 150 years. If you have ever considered entering the challenging and rewarding career of law enforcement, now is your time to apply.”
“This is a great opportunity to join the police department of Rhode Island’s capital city, which is the largest and most diverse in the state,” said Colonel Clements. “In this ever-changing world, the demanding profession of law enforcement is difficult and truly takes a special type of person. We are looking for the best and the brightest.”
The application process for the 68th Providence Police Academy will continue throughout 2015 with the academy beginning in early 2016. The extensive selection process for the academy includes seven phases: Physical Fitness Assessment, Written Examination, Oral Interview, Background Investigation, Psychological Evaluation, and Physical Fitness pre-test prior to entry into the police academy. The Academy is approximately 24-weeks long and includes over 812 hours of training covering daily physical fitness training, defense tactics, firearms training, criminal law procedures, community policing, investigation, emergency vehicle operation and much more.