New London — Police Chief Peter Reichard on Tuesday swore in six new police trainees whose hiring was made possible through a nearly $2.2 million federal grant.

The trainees were sworn in during a virtual ceremony at police headquarters and are expected to spend the next six months at the state police academy.

The new recruits are: Richard Perez, Anna “Annie” Agnew, Christina Nocito, Dexter Aaron Johnson IV, Nicholas Munsch and Samuel Lindblom.

Perez is a native of Manhattan, a father of two, is bilingual and prior to being hired by the city worked as a community construction liaison for Techno Engineering.

Agnew grew up in Ellington, is a former lifeguard and earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Goodwin University.

Nocito, who was born in Hawaii, grew up in New London and is a graduate of New London High School who has earned several college degrees. She is a current resident of New London, a mother and grandmother and worked for two decades as a Bank Secrecy Act manager at Chelsea Groton Bank.

Johnson grew up and resides in New London and studied criminal justice at Three Rivers Community College before joining the U.S. Air Force. He served seven years in the Air Force, where he achieved the rank of staff sergeant and earned several awards.

Munsch grew up in Long Island and recently moved to Groton. He attended Johnson and Wales University, where he was a wrestler and worked for a professional moving company before joining the New London Police Department.

Lindblom attended Waterford High School and graduated from Rhode Island College in 2020. While in college he was a wrestler. He was previously working at an East Lyme day care center.

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services hiring program fully funds the six positions for three years at no cost to the city. City officials have said the new hires are likely to serve as replacements for retiring officers.