The California Highway Patrol (CHP) welcomed more than 90 of California’s newest members of law enforcement during a graduation ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. The Friday, Jan. 5 ceremony was the culmination of more than six months of rigorous training, hard work, and commitment.

“During the past six months in the Academy, these men and women forged a foundation of dedication, discipline, and duty,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Congratulations to the newest members of our CHP family. They are not just officers – they are leaders who have chosen to serve and protect the communities that depend on them.”

The graduating class of 95 officers, including four women, report for duty on Jan. 15, 2024, to one of the CHP’s 103 Area offices throughout the state. A new class of more than 100 cadets will begin their 26-weeks of training at the CHP Academy that same day, bringing the total number of cadets in training currently to more than 300.

At the CHP Academy, cadet training starts with nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism and ethics, and cultural diversity. Cadets also receive instruction on mental illness response and crisis intervention techniques. Training also includes vehicle patrol, crash investigation, first aid, and the apprehension of suspected violators, including those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, cadets receive training in traffic control, report writing, recovery of stolen vehicles, assisting the motoring public, issuing citations, emergency scene management, and knowledge of various codes, including the California Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and Health and Safety Code.

In a unique move, the CHP will also give the public an inside look at its live-in training facility with this month’s release of the new reality series, Cadets. Premiering Wednesday, Jan. 17 on the CHP’s YouTube page, the nine-part docuseries focuses on a cadet class navigating the six-month journey through the CHP Academy on the way to becoming officers.

The release of Cadets is part of the CHP’s ongoing, multi-year recruitment campaign to recruit and hire 1,000 officers that began in June of 2022. A trailer for the series, produced entirely by CHP staff, is available online.

“Cadets is not just a series; it’s a testament to the CHP’s commitment to excellence, diversity, and the relentless pursuit of transforming individuals from all walks of life into dedicated officers ready to serve the community,” said Commissioner Duryee. “We are excited to offer a start-to-finish look inside our Academy as future law enforcement officers are brought to life.”

Viewers will “ride along” with nine cadets as they overcome physical and mental adversity throughout the journey to earning their badge and becoming a CHP officer. The audience will also hear firsthand from the cadets as they speak candidly about their experience.

“By sharing their experiences, in their own words, we hope to inspire more service-minded individuals to follow in their footsteps and join us for a rewarding career in law enforcement,” added Commissioner Duryee.