It was a big day for 73 men and women in Harrisburg on Friday. They graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.
The new State Police troopers spent the last 6 months in an intensive program. At Friday's ceremony, Senator Bob Casey said he hopes Washington will do more to support law enforcement.
At the ceremony, the new troopers took orders and some won special awards as loved ones looked on. But it's all about getting that badge.
For the last 26 weeks these troopers spent time at the Pennsylvania Police Academy, where they studied everything from traffic and criminal laws to shooting guns.
U.S Senator Bob Casey was on hand to speak to the new graduates. "What a great honor to be part of the ceremony today. What a remarkable group if young people."
Casey is a long time supporter of law enforcement initiatives. He says while he understands Washington needs to make spending cuts, it shouldn't affect those who protect and serve. "In just about 2-3 fiscal years, the Federal government has cut almost a billion and a half dollars. But we have to go in the other directions. We need to start investing in these proven crime fighting programs."
Those programs include the COPS Program, Brynne Jag Program and the Bulletproof Vests Program.
"These are times we gotta reduce spending in ways that make sense, and really it makes no sense to cut the support for local law enforcement." Casey said.
All of Friday's graduates have already been assigned to police stations across the state.
