ST. LOUIS — After completing 32 weeks of intense physical training and numerous hours of classroom instruction, the latest recruits of the St. Louis City Police Department are prepared to begin their careers as officers.
Devon Colmone is a Class 2023-03 recruit and told Fox 2, “We’ve been taught the entire time that this is our greatest responsibility. You’re given so much power in this job and it’s very important to stay humble and not go too far with that power.”
Friends, family, and colleagues of nine new recruits from class 2023–03 gathered in the St. Louis University High School auditorium Thursday night to celebrate the new force members. During the ceremony, the recruits were sworn in and presented with their official police badges.
Even with the latest additions to the city’s law enforcement, the call for department applications is still great, as force numbers are lower than the actual number of officers wanted for the force. It takes a great civil servant to make the cut into the St. Louis police department.
Colonol Robert J. Tracy, Chief of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, said, “You gotta want to do this job and that’s why the academy is so long and then we have field training outside to make sure we evaluate that you’ve made the right career choice. We’re going to make sure we’re putting the best trained police officers out there to serve the St. Louis community.”
It takes a great civil servant to make the cut into the St. Louis police department.
Colmone said, “It’s definitely not an easy journey. The other thing I would say is, know what it’s that you want to do. We get a lot of people who think it’s cool to put on a badge and a gun and go out there but after getting into it, they realize this isn’t actually for me. So, definitely do some soul-searching and make sure it’s what you want to do.”
Awards Thursday night included a Core Value Award, Top Defensive Tactics, High Firearms, High Scholastic Average, Top Physical Training, and Best Overall.
As they prepare to hit the streets, these men face the critical task of upholding safety and justice in our community. Their journey is just beginning, with many challenges ahead. Meanwhile, the academy is already gearing up for the next class of recruits who will soon follow in their footsteps.
