Twenty-four new recruits have graduated after completing 17 weeks of police recruit training for Samoa Police.
Ten of the recruits are women making up 42% of the graduates, a figure the Commissioner of, Police Egon Keil says he is extremely proud of.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says while he is glad for the addition to the police service, the new officers must know the authority of a police officer and the heavy responsibility that goes with it.
"Don’t ever abuse the power handed to you as a police officer,” he said.
“Don’t be like some of the old officers who corrupt this power."
"As a matter of fact, be the good police officer that would inspire even the senior officers who still practice corruption," he added.
"Do not forget your name, you are the refuge for people of this country to find help and you must do your duties without bias or favoritism," added the Prime Minister.
He also highlighted a concern about some police officers in financial debt because of the many loans they have.
"My advice commissioner, if any officer has already had too many loans release him because that’s where these officers start to act upon their own rules and not the law of this country," he said.
Shane Tuilagi took the honours of top recruit but the spotlight was on another fellow graduate of his.
One of the recruits, is Talamesi Fuimaono, who won the people’s choice award.
Fuimaono is the eldest of the recruits.
He has fulfilled his dream of becoming a police officer at the age of 54.
Fuimaono was voted the students favourite amongst the recruits.
The number of recruits is small compared to last year, but Commissioner Keil says he is hopeful that will increase.