YOUNGSTOWN — Eleven new Youngstown police officers took the oath of office Friday morning at the Covelli Centre Community Room.

Beefing up the city’s safety forces is one of the priorities of new Mayor Derrick McDowell, far left.

A new police chaplain, Rev. Vit Fiala, also was sworn in at the ceremony.

The department now has 81 officers but remains understaffed.

Out of the 11 new hires, three of them are ready to go while the other eight need to complete the police academy, according to Youngstown police Chief Sharon Cole.

In the photo above, from left, are Kody Smith, Noah Baker, Antonio DePaul, Justin Hamilton, Dominic Chambers, Hunter Davies, Troy Gordon, Brian Gordon, Dominic Andreozzi, Faith Dunlap and Jacolby Jeffries.