Press Release  Local Police Officers Graduate from the MPTC Police Academy

HYANNIS — The Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) Executive Director Colonel Rick Rathbun (Ret.) and East Falmouth Interim Academy Director Donald Mills announced the graduation of 49 police officers from the MPTC East Falmouth Police Academy’s 1^st 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.

“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.” said MPTC Executive Director Colonel Rick Rathbun (Ret.). “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.”

In a graduation ceremony at the Barnstable High School on Thursday, June 05, 2025, members of the 1^st ROC took an oath and received their badges for service. The new officers represented several police departments and agencies, including Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Dartmouth, Dennis, Dukes County Sheriff’s Department, Eastham, Fall River Environmental Police, Fall River, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Nantucket, New Bedford, Orleans, Plymouth, Sandwich, Wellfleet and Yarmouth. They join over 450 officers who have graduated from MPTC-operated academies in training year 2024-2025.

As part of the MPTC’s commitment to academic excellence and world-class police training, the Recruit Officer Course (ROC) 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.

About the Municipal Police Training Committee:

The Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) develops and delivers world-class training across the Commonwealth to more than 20,000 officers at every stage of their careers, ranging from basic training for new officers to mandatory and specialized professional development training. An agency within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), MPTC is responsible for the statewide standardization of police training, delivering a modernized training program that aligns with national best practices, public expectations, and legislative mandates put forward by the 2020 police reform law. MPTC operates a network of convenient regional academies and authorizes independent academies that meet the Agency’s standard of excellence. 

In addition to municipal officers, MPTC ensures the highest training standards for MBTA Police Officers, Environmental Police Officers, UMass Campus Police Officers, Campus Police Officers, and Deputy Sheriffs performing Police duties and functions.

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 MA National Guard Civilian Academy.

Media Contact: Crystal Santiago. crystal.santiago2@,mass.gov

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