Almost 300 applications were received for the Department of Public Safety’s upcoming police academy.
Examinations were completed two weeks ago for half of the applicants, and last Friday the final group took the exam.
Commissioner of Public Safety Taaga Saite Moliga says about 150 have passed the examination, and will now go through physical examinations and interviews. He expects that 80 recruits will be selected for the academy. At the end of the academy, 60 successfully graduate as police officers and 20 will be selected for the Police Reserve.
Taaga explained that the reserve will provide a supply of candidates that DPS can draw from to fill vacancies in the department. The reserve officers have to commit to taking all the classes and exercises for the academy. Previously, reserve officers worked as volunteers, but the commissioner says he’s looking for funding to pay the reserve officers a nominal salary.
The academy is scheduled to start July 1st and will run for up to four months.
