State Police to Graduate Student Troopers
Recruits enter the State Police Academy on Monday, July 12, the first day of the current Student Trooper Academy. (MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE PHOTO)
State Police to Graduate Student Troopers
(UPDATED with hometowns of students and photo.)
Over the past 23 years, the State Police have partnered with the American Legion to provide an invaluable life experience for 4,500 teenagers at the Massachusetts State Police Academy. The latest class of nearly 100 "Student Troopers" will graduate Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. at the academy, located at 340 West Brookfield Rd., New Braintree.
The Student Trooper Program gives Massachusetts residents aged 15-17 first-hand experience into the role of police officers, while also promoting themes of patriotism and civil rights. The experience provides insight to young people who are considering a career in law enforcement.
Student troopers attending the modified one-week academy training program undergo courses in first-aid, alcohol awareness, Internet safety, safe driving skills, team building, a "ropes" confidence course, leadership skills, crime scene investigation, and physical fitness skills. They also are trained in drill and ceremony practice. All of the students are CPR-certified upon graduation.
Junior troopers, who live at the academy for the week, begin each day with 5:30 a.m. reveille, followed by an hour of physical fitness. The rest of the day is filled with training and demonstration in various topics. Among the State Police units providing demonstrations are the Air Wing, K-9 Section, Special Tactical Operations Team, Crime Scene Services Section, and Traffic Programs Section. The busy days conclude at 9 p.m. with a well-earned "lights out."
William McCarthy of the Arlington American Legion Post coordinates this training along with Massachusetts State Police Academy staff. Teenagers of diverse backgrounds from across the state who are in good academic standing were endorsed by their schools for this experience.
Among the hometowns of the students at this week's academy are: Acton, Amesbury, Auburn, Belmont, Billerica, Bolton, Boston, Braintree, Brockton, Carver, Chicopee, Cohasset, Dalton, East Hampton, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Granby, Great Barrington, Hanover, Hatfield, Holyoke, Hopedale, Lawrence, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Manchester, Marlborough, Marblehead, Melrose, Needham, North Adams, North Andover, North Attleboro, North Brookfield, Norton, Peabody, Pembroke, Peru, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Reading, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Southbridge, Southampton, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Swampscott, Swansea, Tewksbury, Tyringham, Uxbridge, Waltham, Ware, Westfield, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilmington and Yarmouth Port.
A second Student Trooper academy, with a different group of students, will be held July 26-30.
Media are welcomed to cover Friday's graduation ceremony. Those interested in doing so must first contact the State Police Office of Media Relations at (508) 820-2121. We will arrange for an MSP contact for you at the event.