INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis police will welcome a diverse group of 20 recruits in its first new class in nearly two years.

The Civilian Police Merit Board on Tuesday approved a list of candidates to be hired for the department's eighth recruit class, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 28.

The class includes 10 black recruits, nine white recruits and one Hispanic recruit. It also includes five women.

"The 20 new recruits bring a variety of experience and backgrounds to the department, including prior law enforcement and military service, college educations and second languages," read a statement from the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety. "They also represent the diversity that we embrace in our city."

The candidates were selected from an existing list of applicants that were originally given conditional offers of employment in 2010, officials said.

All candidates completed written and physical testing, medical and psychological exams, and background checks.

"I was proud to present these candidates to the merit board today," Police Chief Paul Ciesielski said in the release. "I look forward to … when they begin their journey of becoming an IMPD officer and working to help our community."

Three recruits with the previous class who were injured during training will complete the process with the new class.