44 Toledo police recruits start class

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (WUPW) - As 44 Toledo police recruits started their extensive training Tuesday at Owens Community College, newly promoted Police Chief Derrick Diggs called for more money and more manpower for his department.

"Manpower is my top priority and I have a very ambitious plan to select and train officers on the street," Chief Diggs said. "Nut all of that is contingent upon financial circumstances in the city."

MORE: 6 Toledo cadets graduate from accelerated program

The 2012 proposed budget, delivered by Mayor Mike Bell also on Tuesday, calls for another police cadet class of 30 to start in late 2012.

Toledo's new recruits focused on physical and mental fitness during the first day of training, just one of the many aspects of learning the job.

"This is something that I've wanted to do since I was a child, just to be part of the organization," said Jacob Soldenwagner, trainee. "I just feel blessed, I guess. Very honored."

Chief Diggs said the 44 recruits should feel lucky, because they have been selected out of a large pool of candidates. He also said the city's police department and the community win when the recruits graduate, because as it stands this class will equal 458 patrolmen on the force plus 135 command officers.
 
On the flip side, according to Toledo Police Patrolman Association union president Dan Wagner, 593 on the force is a pretty low number.

In the mid-1990s Toledo had a police force in the 700s, Wagner said.

Over the next year, several officers will retire from the police force. Wagner believes the 2011 class will help fill the void.

"We are starting here and we have a long way to go but it's a good sense of accomplishment," said trainee Kevan Toney, whose faher is a sergeant with Toledo police. "I've always looked up to him, what he does. I've had the opportunities to be around police officers growing up."

Graduation for the 44-member class is set for May 2012.