Haiti's National Police gained 1,189 new officers on Friday, October 30, when its 37th class graduated at the National Police Academy. The class, named “Dessalines,” includes 947 men and 242 women, Le Nouvelliste reported.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé attended the ceremony with members of his government, diplomats and the heads of the security forces, according to Le National. He asked the new officers to serve the nation with “honor, discipline, courage and integrity.”

It is the third class trained under the government's P4000+ recruitment program, which aims to rebuild police numbers. Le National said the new officers will increase the number of law enforcement agents across the country.

The graduation comes as the police and their partners step up operations against gangs around the capital, including in Bercy, Gressier and Kenscoff.