HAVERHILL — Fifty-nine police officers on Friday graduated from the Municipal Police Training Committee’s Northern Essex Community College Police Academy’s 7th Recruit Officer Class (ROC). The graduates successfully completed over 20 weeks of intensive, standardized training in all aspects of law enforcement and will now serve as full-time officers representing 20 police agencies across Massachusetts, according to MPTC Executive Director Col. Rick Rathbun (Ret.) and Randolph Academy Director Joshua Stokel.
“The MPTC is committed to developing highly trained, professional and community-focused police officers who are prepared to meet the evolving challenges of modern policing.” Rathbun said. “These graduates have demonstrated dedication, resilience, and a deep commitment to service. As they embark on their careers, we are confident that the cutting-edge standardized training they have received has equipped them with the skills and knowledge needed to uphold the highest standards of public safety. We commend them on this achievement and wish them a safe, successful and fulfilling career ahead.”
During Friday’s graduation ceremony at the Northern Essex Community College Haverhill campus, 7th ROC member took an oath and received their badges for service. The new officers represent several police departments and agencies, including Arlington, Bunker Hill Community College, Burlington, Chelmsford, Danvers, Everett, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, Lynn, Marblehead, Methuen, Newburyport, Northbridge, Salem, Somerville, Templeton, Townsend, Waltham, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. They are the first officers to graduate from MPTC-operated academies in training year 2025-2026.
As part of the MPTC’s commitment to academic excellence and world-class police training, the recruit officer course provides over 800 hours of course curriculum designed to prepare student officers for the safe and effective performance of their duties. In keeping with mandates established by the landmark 2020 police reform law, the MPTC curriculum includes de-escalation training based on new use-of-force policies and regulations. Student officers also receive uniform training based on best practices related to essential modern-day policing needs, including effective communication skills, victim-centered and trauma-informed incident 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 successful completion of the academy, student officers have met all training requirements to be eligible for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission certification.
The MPTC operates police academies in Boylston, East, Falmouth, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lynnfield, Plymouth and Randolph. The MPTC also authorizes full-time academies with the Boston Police Academy, Cambridge Police Academy – Northeastern University, Fitchburg State University Police Program, Lowell Police Academy, MBTA Police Academy, Springfield Police Academy, Worcester Police Academy, Quinsigamond Community College, and the Massachusetts National Guard Civilian Academy.