Watch CBS News

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Swears In First Class Of New Police Recruits Since 2010

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - New Jersey's largest city is getting new police officers from its first class of new recruits since 2010.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Friday swore-in the recruits on Friday.

Thirty of the 35 recruits are men.

The city says the new officers will enhance the mayor's initiative to increase the number of police officers on the force.

"You are a godsend," Baraka said. "Newark desperately needs it and hopefully this is the direction we want to continue to go."

Baraka hopes to smooth out the roughness of crime with his first class of new officers since taking office, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Swears In First Class Of New Police Recruits Since 2010

But Chief Anthony Campos said getting through the police academy was the easy part.

"It gets real the minute you hit the streets of the city." he said. "Newark is hard. It's rough."

Campos says they still have a way to go make up for more than 160 lay offs from four years ago.

You Might Also Be Interested In:

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.