CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Three dozen new police officers joined the Cleveland Division of Police on Friday, taking on the mantle of responsibility just hours after a shooting drew into sharp focus the cost of the job.

The 158th Cleveland Police Academy graduated 36 of the 49 recruits who first embarked on the academy classes back in December.

“I’m proud that I got the chance to become a Cleveland police officer,“ said Officer Gilberto Rodriguez. ”It’s been a rough couple of months, but this is an amazing moment. I’m proud to be a Cleveland Police Officer."

The first assignment came Friday morning, when the cadets marched through downtown Cleveland, before the graduation ceremony at City Hall.

That emotional moment of crossing the finish line comes for them just hours after the most rec

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