38 new officers take to the steets hours after graduating

The El Paso Police Academy graduated a new class of officers Monday, and they went right to the streets.

A total of 38 new recruits, including eight women, took part in Monday morning’s Ceremony at Magoffin Auditorium on the UTEP campus.

One graduate, Dominic Morales, became a fourth-generation officer for EPPD. He’s the son of a former El Paso police officer Carlos Mendez. Morales’ step-father, Slade Davis is currently an officer, and his grandfather and great-grandfather were also El Paso police officers.

Assistant Chief Michelle Gardner said it’s all about family when it comes to the El Paso Police Department.

“Lots of family members are seeing their own children and grandchildren graduating from the Police Academy, so it adds even more to the family concept that we have as policy officers, that we have actual familial relationships as well,” Gardner said.

All of the new officers went right to work this afternoon, reporting for 1 p.m. shifts.