(La Porte, IN) - Four new police officers in La Porte were sworn-in yesterday.  Police Chief Paul Brettin said the new ones will patrol with veteran officers soon then go to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy to undergo certified training and schooling before hitting the streets on their own.

Brettin said it’ll take about 14 weeks to graduate from the academy so the new officers, after further training, probably won’t be ready to work shifts on their own until summer.  He said three other new officers were recently hired and are scheduled to graduate from the academy and return to La Porte for active duty in January.

Brettin said the new additions will definitely help bring the department back to full strength.  The recent hirings increase the number of officers at the department to 42, or about two short of the amount called for in the current budget.  Brettin indicated they are working on hiring the additional two officers that they're approved to hire.