As released by the Mayor's Office of Communications:

HARRISBURG MAYOR ERIC PAPENFUSE TO SWEAR-IN FIVE NEW POLICE OFFICERS ON FRIDAY.

HARRISBURG – Mayor Eric Papenfuse will swear in eight new police officers in a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, in the atrium of the MLK Government Center at 10 N. Second St.

The new officers represent the first of a dozen new recruits who are slated to join the Harrisburg Police Force in the coming months.

“Strengthening public safety will be a priority of our administration, but we are only as strong as our police force,” Papenfuse said in announcing the ceremony. “It is a great sign that we have been able to recruit such a strong group of police officers to protect our city.”

All of the new officers are veterans and several, including two of the female officers, served in combat zones.

New officers include: Brandon Braughler, Tara L. Snyder, Angel R. Diaz, Brandon P. Yeager, Jacobbi T. Harper, Cynthia A Kreiser, Marchand T. Pendlenton and Nina J. Gillespie.