As we observe National Police Week, Fitchburg State University extends its gratitude to our University Police Department.

 Fitchburg State University’s Future Falcon Academy welcomed middle school students from Fitchburg, Leominster, Ayer/Shirley and Gardner for the Future Falcon Academy this week. This immersive week long experience provided each student with a fun and meaningful introduction to university life. Students participated in a variety of engaging activities, including a Fitchburg State University Student Panel and Q&A, College 101 Fair, Animals with a Purpose: How Dogs Support People Every Day, Equity and Diversity in a Multicultural Society, a tour of the Fitchburg State University Police Department, recreational time in the game room, and much more.

Alum Dan Richard of DG Richard Associates, LLC brought a wealth of expertise as he provided training for our Fitchburg State University Police Department today. Sessions focused on two critical pillars of their work: Leadership Development: Strengthening our team from the inside out, and Procedural Integrity: Ensuring all investigations are conducted with constitutional and procedural soundness. Continuous learning is how our Fitchburg State University Police Department stay sharp and serve our community better.

While students are on break, the Fitchburg State University Police Department uses this time as an opportunity to brush up on their skills with varied training sessions. Here, Sgt. Timothy Grant runs a first aid & CPR refresher for our officers. 

We couldn't let National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day pass without a massive shout-out to Chief Michael Cloutier and the entire  Fitchburg State University Police  team! 

At Fitchburg State University, policing is about more than safety—it’s about community. Whether they’re at a student forum, cheering at an event, or just stopping for a chat in the quad, our officers go above and beyond to keep our campus welcoming and approachable. We’re incredibly lucky to have a team that prioritizes building trust and genuine friendships over everything else.

Lourdes Ramirez, Coordinator of Field Placements, Partnerships and Recruitment for Fitchburg State’s School of Education, Early College Dual Enrollment, Fernando Garcia-Rodriguez and Assistant Director of Admissions Eliezer Rivera a cohort of local high school students enrolled in The Future Educator Academy program to campus for a day of programming. Students completed a badge focused on topics in education; CPR- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Fitchburg State University Police Off. Emily Ramos, Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution Techniques with School of Education Professor Emily Fournier, Career Planning & My Future Badge with Career Services and Advising Center Director Lindsay Carpenter Connors, and  Supporting Mental Wellness in the Classroom with Behavioral Sciences Professor Megan Krell, College Reading & Learning Association with Director of the Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center (ACT)  Kat McLellan, and more. 

This morning, on this National Coffee with a Cop Day, the Fitchburg State University community had the chance to meet with Chief Michael Cloutier and members  of the Fitchburg State University Police as they hosted Coffee with a Cop in the Falcon Hub. Fitchburg State University Police therapy dog in-training Zara was there as well. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve.

Late last week, Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier conducted a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training session for faculty and staff. The course, designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) in 2004, provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event.

Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier and Sgt. Timothy Grant gave a training session about the intricacies of de-escalating various situations to our  Office of Student Development Student Orientation Leaders, and Housing and Residential Services Resident Assistants  in preparation for our upcoming Orientation Sessions where we welcome our newest Falcons. 

Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier invited our Residents Assistants, and Housing and Residential Services staff, to tour University Police facilities. Along with lunch and meeting the University Police staff, students and staff got to try out equipment, see what it's like to perform a sobriety test with "drunk" goggles, and so much more!