Six law enforcement officers from across the state were sworn in as Lawrence police recruits Monday morning.

And police leaders said their experience will allow the department to get more officers on the streets faster than a normal process of training new recruits.

“They represent the best of the best of those out there who are looking to find a job within the experienced hiring process,” said Tarik Khatib, Lawrence’s interim police chief. “So we are very excited to be able to have these six officers.”

During a Monday morning ceremony at the department’s Investigations and Training Center, 4820 Bob Billings Parkway, Khatib announced the six new recruits as:

• Tyler Caudle, a sheriff’s officer in Jackson County north of Topeka.

• Alissa Counley and Marie Haynes, both officers from the Kansas University Public Safety Office.

• David Garcia, of the Seward County Sheriff’s Office in southwestern Kansas.

• Nicholas Krug, a sheriff’s officer in Hamilton County also in southwestern Kansas.

• Coleman Marshall, of the Bonner Springs Police Department.

When advertisements seeking officers with at least two years of experience were published in November, it was the first time department leaders had used this tactic since 2001. Khatib said it would allow the department to more quickly replace officers lost through attrition.

Usually, the department hires officers new to the profession.

Capt. Paul Fellers, who leads the community services division, said six new officers will go through an abbreviated one-month training academy learning about tactics specific to Lawrence and the department instead of starting with the basics.

The new officers will then perform a three-month field training period working with current officers on the streets.

Typically new Lawrence recruits undergo a 23-week academy before they start field training.