The Durham Police Department held graduation ceremonies for the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy Thursday night at the Armory.

The 26-week academy has 19 new Durham police officers, two Duke University police officers and three officers with BLET certification.

The graduates include 21 men and three women and range in age from 21 to 32 years old. Two graduates hold master's degrees and nine more graduated from college. Two of the new officers are bilingual. Ten of the graduates are North Carolina natives and three are from Durham.

Three of the new officers are related to current or former Durham police officers (one son, one cousin and one twin brother). One officer is a former Durham police explorer and five have prior military experience.

The new Durham officers includeTerrance W. Alston, Jeffrey R. Amendola, Tyrone D. Blake, Michael S. Bonfiglio, Adam R. Bongarten, Wesley K. Brown Jr., Mark S. Feskanich, Edwin F. Genao, RyanS. Harris, Charles E. Irwin II, Jeffrey J. Kenyon, Brian J. Simmons, Kevin A.Stewart, Brenden J. Tate, Corban D. Teague, Hillary P. Thompson, Robert J.Vernola, Jeffrey J. Wilking and Nicole L. Yepez.

The Duke University officers are Crystal G. McGhee and Constantinos T. Nikas. Jason M. Nazworth, Craig T.Vardaman Sr. and Curtis Vardaman Jr. will graduate with BLET certification.