President Donna Hodge met with the Staff Instructors and Fitchburg State University Police Program Academy Director Ola Wysocki  before giving some words of encouragement to members of the  8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) ay Landry Arena this morning at the onset of the program.

In a cooperative effort between our Criminal Justice Program and our Housing and Residential Services students in Professor Michael S. McCutcheon's Criminal Investigation course were able to work crime scenes in an unoccupied suite in Aubuchon Hall. After Professor McCutcheon handed out the scenarios, students  broke into groups, assessed the scene, and began gathering evidence. 

Fitchburg State University Police Program  Police Academy Director Alexandra Wysocki and  three of our Police Program students entertained the Future Falcons in the Wallace Gym at the McKay Elementary School. The students got a chance to learn a bit about how important physical fitness, stamina, and cooperation is in the effort to become a police officer. The session ended with Director Wysocki and student inviting the Young Falcons to share what qualities they would appreciate in these soon-to-be officers.

In a cooperative effort between the Fitchburg State University Police Department and Criminal Justice Professor Dr. David Weiss' Victimology class, students got the opportunity to take part in a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course. After a warm up & review led by Dispatcher Supervisor Jennie House, students donned the protective gear with the help of Detective Patrolman Niomi Gayle and Officer Grace Kerr. With Sergeant Andrew Himmer wearing the R.A.D. Aggressor Simulation Training Suit, various scenarios were planned for the students to escape.

Officer Emily Ramos and Dispatcher Supervisor Jennie House of the Fitchburg State University Police Department gave lessons to students in Criminal Justice Professor Dr. David Weiss' Victimology course at our Recreation Center. In this course, students will learn: the definition of victimology; of victimology's historical perspective and the startup of the victims' rights movement; of the different types of victimizations; about the two main methods of measuring crime in America; of the roles and responsibilities of the many principals within the criminal justice system as they relate to victims' rights; and, learn about victim services and assistance in responding to criminal victimizations.

This Afternoon, Our Women's History Month celebration continued with a Women in Law Enforcement panel discussion at  Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) monthly meeting in Weston Auditorium. Fitchburg State University Police Program  Police Academy Director Alexandra Wysocki welcomed Lt. Kaitlyn Mercurio – Waltham PD. Officer Krista-Jean Forand – Carver Police Department Lt. Eleni Barbieri – Springfield PD Sgt. Det. Amyleigh DeVito Boston PD   Officer Olivia King has been a member of the Tyngsborough Police Department Deputy Chief Nancy O’Loughlin – University of Massachusetts at Worcester). At the event, attendees got to hear about their career paths and unique experiences in a profession that is only 13% female.

Students in  Earth and Geographic Sciences Professor Jane Huang's GIS (Geographic Information System) for Criminal Justice course work on an advanced mapping project in the Antonucci Science Complex. The course introduces students to the theory and application of crime mapping and analysis in a GIS (Geographic Information System) environment. Students will learn the criminological theories that supports crime analysis and place-based policing. Students will also learn the basic skills of using GIS to create crime maps and to analyze crime patterns. 

Students currently enrolled in an internship participate in a monthly seminar Criminal Justice (CJ) held by Assistant Professor Eileen Kirk.  At this recent seminar, Career Services and Advising Center Director Lindsay Carpenter Connors coached students in job search and interview tips - at times acting as the interviewer. 

Criminal Justice Professor Dr. David Weiss discusses the nature, history, role, operations and management of law enforcement agencies with students in his Theory & Practices of Policing course.

Students in Behavioral Sciences Professor Lilian Bobea's Juvenile Justice course presented The Rise of the Child-Saving Movement. The course is designed to develop student awareness of past and contemporary philosophies, practices and paradoxes of juvenile justice. The course examines the programmatic efforts designed for juveniles in trouble with the law and focuses on the relationships between the components of this system of justice.  Learn more about our Criminal Justice Program here.