With 119 new officers, California Highway Patrol graduates largest class of recruits in two years

This surge in recruitment follows the launch of the CHP 1000 campaign in June 2022, as well as other efforts like a new recruitment series.Photo byCHP

Governor Gavin Newsom today celebrated the addition of 119 new officers to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) ranks, marking the largest graduating class in over two years. These officers, the newest graduates of the CHP Academy, are part of the state’s ongoing effort to bolster public safety through the CHP 1000 recruitment campaign.

Following a rigorous 26-week training program, the graduates were sworn in by CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee during a ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. These new officers will be dispatched to one of the 102 CHP Area offices across the state to begin their service.

The class is part of a larger effort by CHP to meet increasing recruitment goals. With this latest addition, a total of 528 officers have joined the CHP in 2024 alone, exceeding last year’s numbers. Since 2023, more than 900 cadets have been sworn in as CHP officers, a significant step toward the state's goal of hiring 1,000 new officers.

This surge in recruitment follows the launch of the CHP 1000 campaign in June 2022, as well as other efforts like a new recruitment web series called “Cadets.” In the first half of 2024, the CHP received over 11,700 cadet applications — a 58% increase from the same period in 2022. To accommodate the growing interest, the CHP is conducting three Academy classes simultaneously for the first time in its history, with the next graduation set for November 15, 2024.

Cadet training emphasizes nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism, ethics, and cultural diversity, with additional instruction in mental illness response and crisis intervention techniques.

Since 2019, California has made significant investments in public safety, including the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, resulting in a 310% increase in proactive operations targeting crime. Governor Newsom’s administration continues to prioritize public safety through personnel and resources to enhance policing across the state.