Inside the Worcester Police Academy: How 34 Recruits Earned the Badge

By Tiffany Williams

In life, we talk about defining moments.

Moments that change an individual for the rest of their life.

For those pursuing a career as a police officer, the process is long, demanding and uncertain. Along that journey, there are two moments that stand apart from all the others.

The day a recruit enters the police academy.

And the day that recruit graduates from it.

Between those two days are months of sacrifice, discipline, physical exhaustion, academic pressure and lessons that cannot always be found inside a textbook.

On January 27, 2026, Worcester was recovering from a massive blizzard.

The city experienced frigid temperatures, blowing snow and misty, hazy conditions. The historic storm dropped 22.4 inches of snow on Worcester, making it one of the ten deepest snowfalls ever recorded in the city.

For many residents, January 27 will always be remembered as the day Worcester began digging out.

For 41 men and women, it will be remembered for something entirely different.

It was the day they entered the Worcester Police Academy.

It was their first defining moment.

They entered as recruits, each carrying a different story, a different background and a different reason for wanting to wear a badge.

Some were continuing family traditions.

Some were beginning traditions of their own.

Some wanted to return something to the communities that raised them.

Others wanted to become part of something larger than themselves.

Whatever brought them through the doors that January morning, they would soon learn that wanting to become a police officer and completing the work required to become one were two very different things.

The Worcester Police Academy has earned a reputation as one of the toughest police academies in Massachusetts.

That reputation has led an increasing number of law enforcement agencies to send their newest officers to Worcester for training.

The class included recruits representing the Worcester Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Holden Police Department, Framingham Police Department and Quinsigamond Community College Police Department.

By graduation day, the class would also include a new officer serving the Westborough Police Department.

The curriculum was extensive because the responsibilities awaiting the recruits would be extensive.

They received instruction in rules and regulations, water safety, applied patrol procedures, firearms, active shooter response, health and wellness, defensive tactics, use of force and de-escalation.

Their training included emergency vehicle operations, first responder training, CPR, hazardous materials response, homeland security and the Incident Command System.

They studied how officers respond to mental illness, document incidents through report writing and investigate hate crimes.

They learned criminal law, constitutional law, juvenile law, interview and interrogation techniques, and the laws protecting elderly people and individuals with disabilities.

The recruits studied death investigations, criminal investigations, crime scene processing, motor vehicle law and crash investigations.

They trained in RADAR and LIDAR operation, standardized field sobriety testing and OUI detection.

The academy covered gang investigation and intervention, domestic violence investigations, sexual assault investigations, human trafficking, crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

There was training in cultural awareness, diversity, equity and inclusion.

There were lessons in controlled substance investigations, autism awareness, sexual harassment prevention, court procedures and moot court exercises.

The recruits trained through AXON virtual reality technology, the MILO simulator and TASER instruction.

They also completed Massachusetts Police Training Committee ground control techniques and numerous other programs designed to prepare them for the responsibilities of modern policing.

The list of subjects was long.

The days were longer.

During the six-month academy, NewsTalk New England met with several of the recruits and asked them a simple question.

Why?

Why endure the long days, physical demands, constant studying and personal sacrifices required to become a police officer?

For Recruit Keelia M. Rabbett, the answer began in Worcester.

Rabbett grew up in the city, attended school in the city and has lived in Worcester throughout her life.

“Worcester has been a big part of my life, this is where I grew up, this is where I made friends, and a lot of my friends that I have now are still friends with,” said Keelia. “Giving back to this community, becoming a police officer, it really expands on it, I get to see, like, help people who need it, give back to the community, like, my family, I come from a family of police officers, and they’ve really inspired me, seeing them help the community, or wherever they are, they’ve just inspired me so much to do this, and I want to do the same thing, give back.”

For Rabbett, policing was not simply about finding a career.

It was about returning to her community with the ability and responsibility to serve it.

Recruit Brendan M. McKiernan entered the academy carrying a family tradition that stretched back four generations.

“I just kind of want to give back to the community,help people, you know, if we can get to the end,” Recruit Brendan M. McKiernan said when I asked what his why was for becoming a police officer. “I would end up being a fourth-generation police officer, you know, my great-grandfather, my grandfather are retired, my dad is currently still working, so that would be super cool to kind of work with them, and kind of growing up seeing them be police officers and kind of the impact they have has been super beneficial to me and something that I want to, you know, keep on, and this academy process, I mean, it’s been a lot of work, you know, all day, every day, you know, you kind of have to put your life on hold to kind of, I guess, make this dream come true, and, you know, we’re almost kind of towards the end, so, we’re getting there, and, you know, we’re doing some pretty cool stuff now, so, just got to keep soaking in all this information, so hopefully by the time of graduation, we’re out there, ready to go.”

For the recruits, the academy was not something they could leave behind at the end of each training day.

The work followed them home.

Uniforms had to be prepared.

Boots had to be shined.

Assignments had to be completed.

Lessons had to be reviewed.

The next morning, recruits were expected to return ready to perform at the same demanding level all over again.

When asked what had been the hardest part of the academy, McKiernan replied, “I would say, I mean, your day doesn’t end when you leave the building, you know, you got to go home, you got to, a lot of time for your family, you got a lot of time for your friends, but, you know, you got to make sure your uniform is ready for the next day, you got to make sure if we have homework, we do our homework, make sure our boots are shined, you know, and then you got to study to make sure you, you know, stay in the books, making sure that everything we learn sticks and doesn’t leave your brain, so, for me, that’s, physically, too, you know, I thought I was kind of fit coming in, but they kind of run us, run us pretty good, and, you know, now I’m in the best shape I’ve ever beenin, so, that’s been cool to do.”

For Rabbett, the greatest challenge was the volume of information recruits were expected to understand, retain and eventually apply while serving the public.

“Definitely academics.”

Recruit Keelia added, “I would say, it’s, your head’s always going to be in the books, and you’re learning so much, you’re taking in so much, and you don’t want that to, like, disappear, especially when you get out on the road, like, you want to make sure that you’re at 100% with what you know, with your criminal law, with your con law, we had a great teacher who taught us that, and, like, it retains with us, and having all of this, like, information going out on the road, they want to make sure that we’re ready, and that we’re going to be able to help the community, protect the community, and serve them, like, to the best of our abilities with the teachings that we’re getting, so, I’d definitely say academics has been one of the hardest things, and then physical, being physical, too, like, doing our PT, so our training and everything like that, like, it is pretty hard, like, I thought I was pretty fit coming in, but I kind of got kicked in the butt a little bit, and I was like, oh, well, I got to start amping it up, and I’ve never felt better physically.”

NewsTalk New England also met James A. Velardo at the academy.

Velardo, a Worcester Police recruit who grew up in Framingham, had a knack for communications when he was younger.

As his interests developed, he became drawn to criminal law and constitutional law.

“I really wanted to get out there and learn that skill and apply it to helping people.”

When asked why he wanted to become a police officer, Velardo told NewsTalk New England, “You know, I wanted to be a part of something a lot bigger than myself. I wanted to make a difference in the community, and I wanted to see a culmination of teamwork come together to really make a difference in people’s lives. Big reason a lot of people go into this field is because they want to help people, and I really like if I can make a difference in one person’s life, I’ll feel fulfilled in myself and that I really made a difference to the community that I’m engaged with.”

The academy challenged Velardo in ways he had never experienced before.

“The Academy has been one of the most academically challenging things I’ve ever done in my entire life. They really try to pound criminal law, constitutional law, procedures for everything, and the entire rulebook for everything that we need to do. They want to make sure that we’re the most polished police officers that we can be when we get on the road and into the real world. So there’s that aspect on top of physical training. They hold us to a very high standard. They want to make sure that we’re in shape and that we’re going to be able to actually perform the physically grueling tasks that are required when we’re out on the road, and that we keep ourselves and everybody else around us safe.”

Quinsigamond Community College Police Department recruit Crystal M. Mumbauer also spoke about what it took to reach graduation.

When asked about the hardest part of the Worcester Police Academy, she said, “I feel like the hardest part is just getting here, preparing yourself physically and mentally to go through the police academy.”

The academy requires recruits to prepare their bodies for long runs and physically demanding exercises.

It also requires them to prepare mentally for pressure, correction, criticism and uncertainty.

When asked about the physical and mental challenges she faced, Mumbauer said, “Um, just like trying to prepare myself, get myself ready to pass all the runs, and mentally just deal with being yelled at.”

Quinsigamond Community College Police Chief Stephen DiGiovanni said the department was fortunate to welcome Mumbauer.

“We are very lucky to have Officer Mumbauer here. She’s got a great personality and when she’s out there with us in the community, she’s going to do a great job. But most of all is community care taking, making sure that all of our residents are well taken care of, all of our students and staff at the college, but even within the city of Worcester and the county of Worcester as well. I want to make sure that everyone’s community care taken for.”

The Framingham Police Department sent six recruits to the Worcester Police Academy.

Among them was Noah C. O’Neill.

When asked what had been the hardest part of the academy, O’Neill pointed to the daily physical demands and the discipline required before those demands even began.

“Probably the amount of physical exertion every single day, getting up at the same time, coming in, being on time, having everything squared away the right way, and then still being able to do PT and do all that stuff at all times.”

Another Framingham recruit described the challenge differently.

“I think mentally it was super challenging, I thinkphysically it wasn’t so hard, just like the long days, long nights, the studying, staying up, always being prepared, like make sure you have everything every day, I think the mental training was a lot.”

Completing the academy brought relief, but it did not create the belief that their learning had ended.

When asked how much of a relief it was to be finished, O’Neill said, “I mean it’s awesome to be done, but we know we have so much more learning to do, so we’rejust really excited to get out there and keep going.”

Officer Andre M. Jarret said, “I mean it’s a huge relief to be able to go back out there now and hit the actual streets and see what we’ve learned and put it to work, excited.”

Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker has served with the department since 2003.

He was sworn in as chief in 2020 after previously serving as deputy chief of operations.

He also serves as a commissioner on the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

Chief Baker listened to the new officers describe the academy’s physical and mental demands.

Their answers reminded him why he had chosen to send them to Worcester.

“First off I’d like to say I’m very grateful and thankful for the answers that I just received, that you just received for what they went through in this academy, and that’s why I try to use certain academies, because what they just described is what they’re going to go through on a daily basis, the mental, the physical, and it’s challenging, and every day is a new challenge, and to be able to accomplish that in this setting, to prepare you for the street, it speaks volumes.”

Chief Baker said today’s police officers must be prepared to take on several roles, sometimes during a single call.

They must be prepared to protect people.

They must also be prepared to listen.

When asked what he was most looking forward to seeing the new Framingham officers contribute to the community, Chief Baker said, “Just you know, what policing is today, we heard it all day long today, you’ve got to be a guardian, you have to be a warrior, you have to be a social worker, you have to listen to people, you are going to involve people in their worst moments. Don’t be a rascal! They’re going to excel in that, and I’ve got a lot of blood, flesh ready to get out there, just looking forward to them to go contribute to their community, and contribute to their fellow officers, so it’s very exciting, I look back 30 years for me, this was the most exciting day of my police career, I was graduating from the police academy.”

Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier also remembered what it was like to go through a police academy.

“it’s very demanding. Six months. It’s not only academic, but it’s physical. And you’re learning a lot of new things. And everything you do will determine whether or not you’re going to graduate. So there’s a lot of pressure on you to make sure you conform to the rules and regulations and that you get through this academy because now the real test starts.”

The academy tests whether recruits can remain prepared under pressure.

Chief Saucier said that constant expectation was one of the greatest challenges he faced as a recruit.

“Just being ready all the time. You have to be disciplined. You have to have your uniform squared away, shoes shined. On top of that, you got to study countless hours every single night and make sure because if you did not pass a test, you were given one more bite of the apple and then you were out. So there’s a lot on the line.”

Graduation closes one stage of the process.

It opens another.

The new officers will now work beside experienced officers who have served for ten, twenty or even thirty years.

Chief Saucier said the arrival of new officers can remind veteran officers why they entered the profession themselves.

“It’s great when we have new recruits coming out. It often invigorates the rest of the department because again, they’re in a learning mode as well. So you’ll see the recruits out there riding with a partner officer, which they go on calls and everybody’s together. So again, it gives more meaning to the officers who’ve been out there for 10, 20, 30 years, that this is a noble profession and there are still people that want to do it.”

After six difficult months, graduation day arrived on Friday, July 10, 2026.

The class had started with 41 recruits.

Thirty-four crossed the stage, received their badges and became police officers.

Twenty-two graduates joined the Worcester Police Department.

Three joined the Auburn Police Department.

Six joined the Framingham Police Department.

One joined the Holden Police Department.

One joined the Westborough Police Department.

One joined the Quinsigamond Community College Police Department.

Seven of the original 41 recruits did not graduate with the class. The reasons for their absence from the graduating class were not provided.

The Worcester Police Department welcomed Kaylee E. Lebron, Tyler J. Lestage, Brennan M. Looney, Liam P. Bisnette, Brendan J. Charbonneau, Brendan M. McKiernan, Johann N. Cucufate, Derek C. Degon, Jason A. Mendes, Connor R. Priend and Cooper A. Petit.

The department also welcomed Scott Q. Pham, Dezi J. Garcia, Keelia M. Rabbett, Kenneth J. Garcia, Veronica Gaspar, Joseph A. Rivera, Avery W. Thomas, Nicholas A. Keyes, Colm D. King, James A. Velardo and Davies A. Kumatse.

The Auburn Police Department welcomed Nathan S. Lewos, Jacques T. Durocher and Carrie A. Girardin.

The Framingham Police Department welcomed Noah C. O’Neill, Danielly A. Queiroz, Lucas A. Vasquez, Daniel L. Cordeiro, Brandon C. DeMoura and Andre M. Jarret.

The Holden Police Department welcomed Alex H. Gilfoy.

The Westborough Police Department welcomed Rio K. Ferguson.

The Quinsigamond Community College Police Department welcomed Crystal M. Mumbauer.

For some graduates, the badges pinned to their uniforms represented more than a new profession.

They represented family history.

Officer Joseph A. Rivera is the nephew of Worcester Police Captain Miguel Lopez.

Officer Dezi J. Garcia is the son of Worcester Police Officer Iggy Garcia, a proud Cuban American who spent seventeen years working in the department’s gang unit.

Officer Iggy Garcia died from pancreatic cancer on September 4, 2021.

But his son said his father remained with him throughout the academy.

“My father, he was a very, very well-known and great police officer,” said Dezi. “He passed away about five years ago from pancreatic cancer, but he was with me the whole way. I felt him with me. He let me have the strength to get through this along with these guys. You know, we have very strong bonds. This class is very strong and courageous. And we got through the hard times together, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without, you know, that extra push from my father and everything I did, you know, like Captain Murphy said, you know, you gotta know your why, and that was my why. To help the community serve with me, to represent my family, and to make my dad proud for sure.”

Officer Liam P. Bisnette also graduated carrying the memory of his father.

Worcester Police Officer Mark D. Bisnette died on January 2, 2010, at the age of 38.

He died following a single-vehicle rollover crash on Reservoir Street in Holden while driving home.

Officer Mark Bisnette joined the Worcester Police Department in 1996 and served for fourteen years.

He was president of Worcester Police Recruit Class No. 296.

He was also a member of the Honor Guard, the Police Relief Association, the Emerald Society and NEPBA Local 911.

He served as a delegate to the Massachusetts Police Association.

Liam Bisnette was only five years old when his father died.

“I grew up around police officers my whole life,” said Officer Liam P. Bisnette. “Having his badge and taking on his memory is just, it’s everything.”

Officer Liam P. Bisnette will wear his father’s badge.

It is difficult to imagine a more meaningful inheritance.

Not an object stored away in a box.

Not a memory placed on a shelf.

A badge returning to service through the son of the officer who once wore it.

For Officer Brendan M. McKiernan, the graduation ceremony connected four generations of law enforcement service.

His badge was pinned on him by his father, Worcester Police Captain Michael McKiernan, his grandfather, a retired Worcester police lieutenant, and his brother, a Westborough police officer.

His great-grandfather was also a Worcester police officer.

When asked about having his father and grandfather pin his badge, McKiernan said, “Yeah, it’s awesome. I mean, two guys I’ve looked up to my entire life and kind of seeing how they’ve navigated their lives and kind of the relationships in their lives are all guys that they worked with. So trying to step into that and be a part of that, like these guys, I’m sure. My dad’s got buddies from his academy that he talks to every day. So just kind of following that and just seeing what kind of life you can live is super cool. And hopefully that’s something I can do.”

For the families watching, the badge-pinning ceremony marked the end of six months of sacrifice.

It also marked the beginning of a new responsibility.

The new officers will soon meet residents on ordinary days and during some of the worst moments of their lives.

They will respond when someone is frightened.

They will arrive when someone is hurt.

They will be expected to make decisions when circumstances are confusing, emotional and dangerous.

When Officer Garcia was asked what he wanted people to know before he began working in the community, his message was simple.

“Say hi. We’re nice people. We love the community. So we’ll protect you. So just say hi. We’ll be there for you when you call.”

None of the recruits completed the academy alone.

Behind them stood a group of academy instructors responsible for teaching, challenging and preparing them.

The academy staff included Captain Christopher J. Murphy, Lieutenant Joseph J. Scampini, Sergeant Andrew J. Cravedi, Sergeant Timothy J. Segur, Officer Joel Delgado-Arce, Officer Steven Guercio, Officer Gregory P. Joinville, Officer Mariah Kaplan and Officer Paul G. Letourneau.

The staff also included Officer Anthony Lorente, Officer Jensen Martinez, Officer Michael Prizio, Officer Nathan Reando, Officer Ronald Remillard, Officer Michael J. Wilson, Shawn M. Barbale, Sergeant Eric A. Boss, Sergeant James T. Foley, Sergeant Stephen L. Roche and Sergeant Jeremy M. Smith.

Guest instructors included Detective Tyler H. Collette, Detective Dyan D. Patient, Officer Angel L. Rivera Jr., retired Worcester Police Officer John F. Mahan, Chief Equity Officer Kevin Lovaincy, Sergeant Angel L. Miranda and Officer Peter DeProspo.

When NewsTalk New England visited the Worcester Police Academy, recruits were asked whether one instructor stood out to them.

Just about every recruit identified Officer Ronald Remillard and Officer Mariah Kaplan.

Officer Remillard said he now wants to see the new officers take the training they received and begin learning the realities of the profession.

“Get their feet wet and learn how to be a police officer. I’d like to see them engage with the community, do good police work, go out there and do some self-initiated police work, and just do a good job overall.”

Six months earlier, Worcester was covered in more than twenty-two inches of snow.

Forty-one recruits entered the academy while the city was still digging itself out.

They came from different communities.

They represented different departments.

They carried different reasons for wanting to serve.

On July 10, thirty-four of them stood before their families, instructors, police chiefs and fellow officers.

The uniforms were ready.

The shoes were shined.

The tests had been passed.

The runs had been completed.

The long nights of studying were over.

At least for now.