A special graduation parade is being held at the Sydney Cricket Ground to acknowledge the 1000 NSW police officers who joined the force during 2020.
Five classes that went through the Police Academy this year are taking part in the event on December 4 after families and friends were excluded from graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’ve got a 1000 recruits from 2020 who will march out onto the Sydney Cricket Ground .... and get to throw their hats into the air in front of their families and loved ones,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told Sydney radio 2GB.
The ceremony will be attended by a raft of dignitaries including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Police Minister David Elliott.
The latest 189 recruits from Class 344 - will be joined at the SCG by 800 other probationary constables from classes 340, 341, 342 and 343.
The recruits - 49 female and 140 male officers - will be sworn in and report to their stations for work on Monday.
They will then complete 12 months of on-the-job training while studying with Charles Sturt University before graduating as constables.
Berejiklian said the NSW Police Force played a pivotal role in protecting the community from coronavirus in 2020.
“Every member of the NSW Police Force deserves our state’s greatest thanks after a year that saw police play an unprecedented role in keeping our community safe,” she said.
Elliott said police had faced a challenging year dealing with bushfires, border checks on top of their general duties.
“Our police cadets have faced exceptional challenges this year, but they have shown they can overcome difficult circumstances to complete their training, and they will now use the same resilience to push them forward in their new careers,” he said.
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