Five new officers recently joined the Bay Minette Police Department.

The new officers received training from the Mobile Police Academy which graduated 32 new officers this month. The Mobile Police Department opened its training to officers from other parts of the state at the request of the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

Joining the department are Neal Phillips, Jonathan Davidson, Rufus Thompson Jr., Andrew Bitetti, and Richard Davis Jr., all of Bay Minette.

According to Nancy Johnson, public relations coordinator for the Mobile Police Department, recruits received 496 hours of training.

“Forty-one recruits had started the months-long training regimen in early March, but along the way, nine of the recruits fell out for various reasons,” Johnson said.

“We’re looking forward to great things out of these guys,” said Chief Michael Rowland. “They will certainly help out and strengthen the department.”

Jonathan Davidson, for example, received special academic recognition while at the academy, achieving the highest grades in his class.