Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Newark officials welcomed its 124th police class, adding 82 new officers to its force in a ceremony Thursday morning.

The academy graduates, their families and city and state officials gathered at St. Lucy's Church on 7th Avenue to celebrate their swearing in.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

The class is composed of 75 men and seven women. Of those new officers, 33 are Hispanic, 24 are black and 25 are white.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Most of the graduates were trained at the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Newark Mayor Baraka Ras Baraka told the audience that the graduation represented an exciting time for the city.

"This group of police officers received advance training in protecting residents and will become an integral part of the communities they serve," the mayor said.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

The new officers bring Newark's police force to a total of 1,143 personnel.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Chief of Police Darnell Henry also spoke at the swearing in service.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, attended the ceremony.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose addressed the crowd.

"Newark is changing. Despite what you believe or think, Newark is changing right in front of your eyes. It's becoming a city we can all believe in again," Ambrose said.

"You're not here to police the community, you're here because you're a part of the community," Ambrose told the officers. "This community is your community. Whether you were raised in it as a child, or adopted into it as an adult."

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Ambrose also told the new officers that they deserve to be proud of their achievement.

"What you should feel is that you made it," he said. "That you tolerated physical, emotional and intellectual challenges and you made it here today."

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

The new officers signed a mission statement after they were sworn in.

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Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @psapo, Twitter @psapone. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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