CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston has four new recruits on the force. Thursday, Mayor Danny Jones swore in the latest officers hired by the police department. They start their training at the West Virginia State Police Academy next week.
Charleston Deputy Chief Jason Beckett was on hand to greet the new officers. He said they are a welcome addition to the force.
“This will put us almost at full strength. I believe we’ll be at 162 and our full strength is at 163,” said Beckett.
This is the fourth time in the past few months Charleston P.D. has swore in new officers. Not only is the department losing veterans of the force, Beckett explained some of the past recruits just haven’t worked out. In the past four training classes, six hires have dropped out of the academy.
“You truly have to want to be a police officer in order to make it through!”
Beckett admitted it’s disappointing to hire recruits who they believe will be good officers, only to find out they can’t cut it.
“It’s a long process to get to this point before they’re hired. So once we get them here and get them up to the academy, we like to see them make it,” stressed Beckett.
If all four of the new hires make it through their academy training, they should be ready to hit the road, partnered with a senior officer, late this fall.