Members of the 181st class included 104 recruits with 54 of them sworn in today. Twenty-eight percent of the 104 recruits are minorities, and 10 of them speak fluent Spanish.

"It's not lost on us that you are joining this noble profession in a critical time in policing," says Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart.

Nicholas Echeverria, 24, is one of the Spanish-speaking recruits. Echeverria was born in South America.

"A lot of people saying their scared for me or mad at me for joining," says Echeverria. "I just want to try to make a difference, help people see the good in cops."

In addition, 43% of the recruits have prior law enforcement experience and 68% are military veterans.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says the goal was to do systematic change. Bellone says the Civil Service office was overhauled with a change in leadership and the addition of a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.