NSW Police graduates biggest class in 13 years

New South Wales Police has graduated 341 new recruits aged 19 to 54 in the biggest police academy class in 13 years, marking Commissioner Mal Lanyon's first cohort. The graduation comes as the force implements paid recruitment training to address staffing shortages, though thousands of officer vacancies remain unfilled. Retiring Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty concluded 40 years of distinguished service, having investigated major crimes including the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbings.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Paying recruits to study is paying off for police, with
hundreds of officers graduating today in the biggest class in years. However,
the force is till thousands of officers under strength.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
The newest police recruits march towards their futures. Malanion's first
cohort as Commissioner.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
That I will well and truly serve.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Three hundred and forty one recruits age nineteen to fifty four,
the biggest class in thirteen years.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
It's a wonderful and very exciting day for the new
South Wales Police. Paying the recruits down here made a
significant difference.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
Of course.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
It means that you can continue on with your life.
Among them, twenty three year old Angus Cook.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
My pop just retired last year after fifty years of service.
I think it was always going to be their coffers.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
And as the next generation steps in a familiar face
retired Detective Superintendent Danny Dougherty.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
He had dedicated over forty years of distinguished.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Service from a cadet to chief investigator crimes like the
Bondai Junction Westfield stabbings, the cop accused of double murder,
decades of finding justice for victims.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
They'll see the worst and best of people. The reward
is the family and having to give them answers.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
On a chili goldbin morning. Today's recruits have proved they're
ready to weather more than just the elements, But with
thousands of vacancies still left to fill, the new South
Wales Police Force knows the forecast remains challenging. Green shoots
are definitely showing, Amy Clement's Seven News