Arizona Department of Public Safety Graduates Record-Breaking Cadet Class Amid Staffing Crisis
MESA, AZ — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) is taking significant steps to address its staffing shortages, graduating its largest class of cadets in recent years. At a ceremony attended by around 1,200 people, including Governor Katie Hobbs, 54 cadets from Class 37 celebrated their achievement and are now set to begin field training.
This graduating class consists of 30 new recruits and 24 lateral transfers from other agencies, representing a notable increase from previous classes, which typically saw around 30 graduates. "This is going to be a big help," said DPS spokesperson Eric Andrews, highlighting ongoing improvements in recruiting methods that have reduced pending applications from 4,000 to fewer than 100.
With DPS aiming to fill classes with 30 to 40 recruits, Andrews acknowledged the agency’s broader staffing challenges mirrored across law enforcement. Many new troopers will be stationed in the understaffed Phoenix metro area, enhancing response times across 28,000 miles of highway. Andrews envisions these graduates contributing not just to traffic safety, but also to criminal investigations, emphasizing their critical role in community safety. This class marks the largest DPS graduation in a decade, underscoring a concerted effort to bolster the agency’s ranks.
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