18 Graduate from Latest Springfield Police Department Academy

The Springfield Police Department is welcoming 18 new officers to the force after graduating from the academy.

Officials say the 18 qualified for graduation after completing a strenuous list of objectives, which included 1,100 hours of law enforcement training.

Those part of the graduating class include 15 men and three women.

The new graduates will be honored at a ceremony Friday at 7 p.m. at the East Sunshine Church of Christ in Springfield.

Following graduation, the recruits will be assigned to field-training with an officer, where they must complete 520 hours of on-the-job training before being assigned to solo patrols.