An academy class for 04 looks bleak. Maybe in early 05. :? Like all things nothing is set in stone and its found out at the last minuet. Worcester has to take the guys on the lay off list and lateral transfers first. However many slots are left open go to having an academy class. The department is hoping that no more than 20 to 25 layed off people take it, because they would rather train a bunch of recruits on their own to perform the way the department wants them to. They are shooting for April to hire the 50, but it is still lingering.
I interned for the Training Division and was told that the police officers from the layoff list would have to go through a 2 to 3 month training process to get recertified for the WPD for the fire arms, first responder, ect. So, whatever slots are left open for an academy, do the math; if things go as planned, which they almost never do. 2-3 months from April would put the lay off PO's on the street in June/July; now it takes 3-4 months to get an academy going; so from July, the latest an academy could be theoretically started would be around Janurary of 05.
As far as I know, nothing has been mentioned by the city and I think they are still sitting on the issue. Right now they are weaseling any way to get more money to get them out of debt, because all they do is just squander money when they get it.