Twenty recruits ready to join Milwaukee Police Department

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Tuesday, January 21st marked a rite of passage of sorts for the newest crop of recruits hoping to serve on Milwaukee streets. On Thursday, 20 fresh graduates will be joining Milwaukee's police force after six months of training and testing.

"This is an amazing opportunity that few have," one recruit told FOX6 News.

"It is an absolute huge deal to be here. There is a lot of people that apply and they do not make it on the list and they do not get into the classes," Sgt. Justin Sebestyen said.

On Tuesday, 50 successful applicants hoping to join the ranks of Milwaukee's finest.

The swearing-in ceremony kicks off what promises to be a strenuous six month stretch of training and testing.

Just having the chance to join the Milwaukee Police Department is something most of these recruits say they've dreamed of for years.

"Everything about the job attracted me to it so I knew from day one this is what I wanted to do," Mathew Jackson said.

Jackson spent four years in the Air Force before returning home and studying at MATC with the goal of one day getting there.

"I actually applied pretty much the minute I got back from the millitary and it's been this long of a process," Jackson said.