By Tiffany Williams –
On July 8th, 2024, a significant milestone took place as 50 men and women from various communities across Massachusetts gathered at the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) Police Academy, located in the quaint town of West Boylston, Massachusetts. With a modest population of 7,790, this small yet vibrant community is situated approximately 57 miles west of Boston. These individuals embarked on a transformative journey, transitioning from civilians to student officers as part of the 34th Recruit Officer Class.
During the rigorous six-month training program, the student officers received instruction and guidance from a distinguished group of law enforcement professionals, including Academy Director Lisa A. Lane. The curriculum encompassed an extensive 800 hours of courses meticulously designed to equip the future police officers with the skills and knowledge needed for the safe and effective execution of their duties as soon to be police officers in diverse communities across Massachusetts and its college campuses.
The program’s comprehensive training regimen included a strong focus on de-escalation techniques in line with newly established use-of-force policies and regulations. Participants honed their effective communication skills and learned to implement victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches to incident response. Additional critical areas of training involved investigating missing persons cases and human trafficking, responding to mental health-related emergencies, preparing for active shooter and hostile event incidents, mastering patrol duties, and prioritizing officer safety and wellness.
On Friday, December 6, 2024, the culmination of their hard work and dedication was celebrated as 48 of the 50 student officers proudly arrived at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, successfully completing their training and officially becoming police officers.
With this graduation, these 48 new officers joined nearly 250 graduates from MPTC-operated academies across Massachusetts for the training year 2024-2025. Each officer met rigorous training requirements, qualifying them for certification from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. They are now prepared to serve as full-time law enforcement representatives of 29 different police agencies throughout the Commonwealth, including Amherst, Ashland, Assumption University, Bedford, Berlin, Bourne, Brookfield, Douglas, Holden, Hopkinton, Hull, Leicester, Leominster, Ludlow, Marlborough, Northborough, Northeastern University, Oxford, Seekonk, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Southbridge, Stow, Sudbury, UMASS Chan Medical School, Uxbridge, Webster, West Springfield, and Worcester State University.
In a separate yet equally significant graduation ceremony held at Attleboro High School on November 15, 2024, another 48 Student Officers marked their transition to police officers as part of the MPTC Randolph Police Academy’s 20th Recruit Officer Class. This diverse group represented various departments and agencies, including Attleboro, Avon, Brockton, Dedham, Emerson College, Hopkinton, Lynn, Nantucket, New Bedford, Norwood, Orleans, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, Seekonk, Sharon, Stoneham, Waltham, Wareham, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Weston.
Among those sworn in from the MPTC Randolph Police Academy’s 20th Recruit Officer Class were officers Janira Alves, Kevin DePina, Darnell DeRosa, Jon Dragonetti, Brian McSherry, Bruno Moeda, Adam Peloquin, and Christopher Smith, who proudly joined the Brockton Police Department.
Officers Angel Medina, Matthew Bilodeau, Calob Jardin, Thomas Pimentel, Ryan Santos, Isaque Macedo, and Andrew Kirby, also from the MPTC Randolph Police Academy’s 20th Recruit Officer Class, were sworn in with the New Bedford Police Department.
“The latest graduating class from the MPTC embody our dedication to cultivating the future leaders of public safety. These officers are not only ready to protect and serve their communities, but also advance public safety across the state.” said MPTC Interim Executive Director Jeff W. Farnsworth. “By applying the skills, knowledge, and principles instilled throughout their training, they are prepared to make a significant impact on their communities. We wish them a safe and fulfilling future, confident that the world-class training they have received will guide them in their mission to uphold the highest standards of modern policing.”