By Tiffany Williams –
Massachusetts welcomed dozens of newly trained police officers and firefighters into public safety service as the Municipal Police Training Committee and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy celebrated the graduation of new recruit classes that will serve communities across the Commonwealth.
Municipal Police Training Committee Executive Director Colonel Rick Rathbun (Ret.) and Randolph Interim Academy Director Sgt. Frank Eldridge (Ret.) announced the graduation of 52 police officers from the Randolph Police Academy’s 23rd Recruit Officer Course.
The graduates completed more than 20 weeks of standardized training in all aspects of law enforcement and will now serve as full-time officers representing 20 police agencies across Massachusetts.
During a graduation ceremony held at Brockton High School, members of the 23rd Recruit Officer Course took their oath of office and received their badges for service.
The graduates will join the police departments and agencies of Attleboro, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Bourne, Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, Brockton, Chelsea, Dighton, Gloucester, Massachusetts Environmental Police, New Bedford, Newton, North Reading, Plymouth, Seekonk, Stoughton, Swampscott, Taunton and Wayland. Officials said they are the first officers to graduate from Municipal Police Training Committee-operated academies during the 2026-2027 training year.
“Graduating from an MPTC Academy is a significant achievement that reflects the dedication, professionalism, and perseverance required of today’s public safety professionals.” said MPTC Executive Director Colonel Rick Rathbun (Ret.). “These graduates have met rigorous standards and completed comprehensive, standardized training designed to prepare them for the complex challenges of modern policing. We congratulate them on this accomplishment and their commitment to serving their communities.”
Officials said the Recruit Officer Course includes more than 800 hours of curriculum covering all aspects of modern policing, including de-escalation training based on current use-of-force policies, effective communication, victim-centered and trauma-informed response, missing persons and human trafficking investigations, mental health-related emergency response, active shooter and hostile event response, patrol duties, and officer safety and wellness.
Upon successfully completing the academy, graduates have met all training requirements to be eligible for certification by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.
State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy leadership also announced the graduation of 29 firefighters from the academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.
The graduates of Career Recruit Class No. 340 represent the fire departments of Acton, Arlington, Hopedale, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominster, Middleton, Norwood, Orleans, Plainville, Plymouth, Salem, Sudbury, Wakefield and Westford.
“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said MFA Recruit Program Coordinator Dean Babineau. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, today’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to work seamlessly with veteran firefighters in their home departments and in neighboring communities as mutual aid.”
The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award was presented to Firefighter Stephen McCann of the Plymouth Fire Department. The award recognizes one recruit in each graduating career recruit class for academic achievement, practical skills, testing and evaluations throughout the 10-week program.
Officials said recruits completed classroom instruction and practical training in essential firefighting skills, including life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Upon graduation, students met the national standards of NFPA 1010, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and earned certification as Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations through the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy provides recruit and in-service training for career, call and volunteer firefighters at campuses in Stow, Springfield and Bridgewater.