Twenty-six recruits joined the ranks of Pittsburgh police during a ceremony Friday at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in East Liberty.

Mayor Bill Peduto administered the oath of office to the recruits, and noted the significance of their graduation falling on Valentine's Day.

“You didn't accept a job … you accepted a passion,” Peduto told them. “There's a reason you want to be a Pittsburgh police officer. There's something that drives you.”

The recruits spent 32 weeks in the classroom before starting their field training in November. New Officer Sean Jozwiak, the recruit class representative, said his classmates helped each other study and make it through the physical fitness tests.

“We took it upon ourselves to either succeed as a class or fail as a class,” Jozwiak said.

Acting police Chief Regina McDonald said it was the first time in several years that every recruit graduated.

“That is something to be proud of, “ she said.

Margaret Harding is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8519 or mharding@tribweb.com.

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