New Minneapolis PD recruit welcomed into force by their parents
Minneapolis police adds more legacy hires to force
The Minneapolis Police Department is adding more legacy hires to the force in an effort to get more people to join the department. FOX 9's Leon Purvis has the story.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - New recruits and lateral officers from their respective programs graduated from the Minneapolis Police Department Thursday, in an effort to have more sworn officers on the force. They’re also focused on legacy hires, which are recruits who have family members who’ve been officers.
The Minneapolis Police Department
What we know:
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has been very vocal about staffing shortages. Right now, the city has 580 sworn officers. More than 500 officers have left the force since 2020.
"We have to lift up the good stories, about the great work that’s happen, the heroic work that’s happening every single day. And reward the behaviors we want to see, at the same time while we hold people accountable," said O’Hara.
Legacy Hire
What they're saying:
Eighteen-year-old Community Service Officer Lila Hanson has been around the badge her entire life. Her grandfather is a retired Minneapolis police officer, her mother is a retired sergeant, her dad a current officer, and her stepmom is the commander of The Procedural Justice Unit.
"Every single day, I think about being able to share the same uniform that my family wears. Just being able to call myself a police officer. It’s truly going to become a dream come true," said Hanson.
She’s optimistic about the department despite challenges following the murder of George Floyd and staffing shortages.
"Being here and working here, we’re helping make the change from those issues in the past and all the horrible things that have happened," said Hanson.
That could be a reason why the next generation of officers are excited about protecting the community they care about.
"Minneapolis is the place that’s always needed help since what’s happened," said Richard Walker Jr., a community service officer.
Walker Jr’s father is a sergeant in the 5th precinct. Being a legacy hire creates a special in the family and in the department.
"I believe that it’s the ultimate kind of support," said Kyle Schwarts, a sworn officer.
O’Hara says 85 more officers are in the pipeline, adding he’s even seen a trend of veteran officers holding onto their badges to stay longer.