Raleigh Police Department welcomes 27 officers to the force

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh Police Department welcomed 27 new officers during the 131st Academy Graduation Class on Friday morning.

The graduates walked the stage and took their oaths as Raleigh Police officers. This is the second academy graduation this year and the first class under Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce.

"They are prepared to lead and they're prepared to serve. And that's the message I wanted to send home today, is make sure you continue to have that servant heart where you help people, in making things better and not worse," said Boyce.

This new class of graduates comes at a time when police departments across the country are struggling to get enough recruits to fill vacancies. As of this week, RPD reported more than 70 vacancies. "We're going to continue to evaluate our staffing to see if we need to add more. With this city growing as fast as it is growing, we absolutely need more resources and we're going to be strategic about how we bring those resources into the City of Raleigh," explained Chief Boyce.

Boyce shared a message to the new officers that centered around integrity, courage, and trust. ABC11 met Philip Zakett, one of the new officers ready to hit the streets. Zakett is a veteran who wanted to continue to serve his community.

"It's just a chance to help someone on their worst day. A chance to make a difference in someone when they need the help," said Zakett.

Officer Zakett said the new officers are young, but have a lot of heart.

"They're very empathetic, they're very compassionate and it's just a great group of people and I have no doubt they're going to go out there and do a great job. "

Sitting in the audience at the 131st Academy Graduation Ceremony was a class of more recruits. Chief Boyce said 59 recruits will start the 132nd police academy class on September 29.