Remele, 38, was a booking officer in Bridgeport for seven years; Vince was a corrections officer for seven years; and Jones, 51, was a city firefighter for nine years.

From fighting fires and fighting with prisoners, the three now want to make arrests as police officers.

Their police class, the first in five years, is also the first to train in the new Police Academy in the former Newfield School, on Newfield Avenue in the city's East End.

"I have a history of police in my family," said Jones. "I wanted a change of careers, better advancement opportunity and to serve the city."

If all pass the arduous 23-week training, the 21 men and eight women will graduate in December and have to hit the streets with field training officers for 200 hours.

They were sworn in last Monday and are on probation for a year. There are 11 whites, 11 hispanics and seven blacks. Twelve live outside Bridgeport; and the youngest candidate is 21.

There were 33 candidates, but a state-mandated agility test eliminated six on Tuesday, said Police Chief Bryan Norwood. Two more candidates are to be added today, said Michael Giannotti, mayoral spokesman.

If the agility test was punishing, the rest of the academy promises no relief for the candidates.

They took the agility test at Central High School in high heat and humidity and on Friday were doing pushups and jumping jacks on the hot pavement of the academy parking lot.

Jones and Remele were not fazed.

"It was hot, but it didn't bother me," Jones, a city resident for 31 years, said of Friday's workout.

Remele's hands were unscathed. As a booking officer, she's been through worse.

"I have fought. I have been injured," she recalled of her job watching prisoners in the holding cells.

Her parents are city Sgt. James Remele, a supervisor of the Major Crime Squad in the Detective Bureau, and Lt. Aida Remele, who runs the academy.

The lieutenant works behind the scenes, not directly with the recruits, Carla Remele said.

Although Vince declined to comment, his father, Frank Vince, a former U.S. Marine, said becoming a police officer was his son's goal.

"It's been a lifelong dream of his ever since he was 14 years old," Frank Vince said.

His son enjoyed being a corrections officer, the father added.

Despite the day's strenuous exercise, many of the candidates still returned for a cookout held by the city in the parking lot for them and their families Friday evening.

The candidates gave tours of the nearly century-old school, which underwent a $200,000 facelift to accommodate the academy.

The improvements include a paint job and installation of locker rooms and a cafeteria, as well as technology including laptops and projector screens in the classrooms.

There is also an exercise room with mats and a dummy for physical training.

The city's cramped, old academy is in City Hall Annex on Broad Street, downtown. The city closed Newfield School last fall and its students were reassigned to other schools.

The location was also a factor in converting the school, and Mayor John M. Farbizi said it fulfulled a promise he made to East End residents to increase police presence in the neighborhood.

The mayor, the chief and prominent East End residents spoke at a press conference before the cookout.

"This is what we need," Ted Meekins, a retired city officer and president of the East End Community Council, said of the academy.

For Remele, the academy is her chance to follow in her parents' footsteps. But it's hard.

"They're working us so, so hard," she said.

At the end of the day, "You're exhausted, but you feel like you've accomplished something." she added. "I wish I had started sooner."

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.