The latest crop of police recruits will begin basic training in the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy on Monday, January 5.

Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero said that 22 recruits from 10 law enforcement agencies will be participating in the six-month training session, which will be held at the Ontario County Safety Training Center in Hopewell . Recruits are scheduled to graduate July 15 at a ceremony at the auditorium of the Canandaigua Academy.

Class size is reduced slightly, from 26 recruits last year. Povero said that the number corresponds to the average position losses to police in recent years.

This year’s class includes recruits from Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Yates and Livingston’s office of the county sheriff, the Port Byron, Dansville, Penn Yan Lyon and the police and the Finger Lakes Community College Campus Safety Office.

The academy will include the program mandated by the New York State Division of Safety Training, but also several additions implemented by the Academy of the committee, chaired by Povero and regional Police and Sheriffs.

“We try to make sure there is an emphasis on rural law enforcement practiced in this area,”  said Povero.

The course also includes a two-day seminar for spouses and family members of prospective officers, many of whom have never had a close become a police officer said.

The session option includes the foundation for security of firearms, care and cleaning of police uniforms and, in this new year, what to do if they see their undercover or plain-clothed significant other in public.

“We’re very happy with that,” Povero said. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from families about how it helps them understand what being a police officer is all about.”