Several recruits looking to fill Reno police jobs have graduated, meaning the city and county will soon get more police officers.

The 27 recruits completed 720 hours of intensive training at the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy. Of the recruits, 23 are from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and four are from the Reno Police Department. The recruits will be assigned to police training programs or detention training programs through their respective agencies to further prepare them for assignments in detention or patrol divisions.

The training was conducted to help recruits meet a number of requirements in state law to be a Category 1 Peace Officer. Classroom and practical training included investigation of crime scenes, accidents, domestic abuse and child and elderly abuse; evidence preservation and collection; officer skills such as interviewing techniques, methods of arrest, defensive tactics, officer safety, patrol procedures and operation of emergency vehicles and constitutional law, laws of arrest, search and seizure, narcotics and traffic laws.

Recruits also studied community relations subjects like interpersonal communication, victims rights and ethics in law enforcement and cultural awareness. Scenario based training exercises also were conducted to enhance skills and abilities.

“The Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy was created to maximize the effective use of the extensive knowledge and qualified training resources of the area’s respective law enforcement agencies, and to eliminate duplication of services,” officials from the City of Reno said in the pres release. “An Executive Board with representatives from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Truckee Meadows Community College provide oversight and executive direction for the training program.

“The cadre of instructors is drawn from each of the respective agencies as well as from the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, Washoe County Crime Lab and many other agencies for specific training topics and exercises,” the release adds.