Fitchburg State University Police Program  Police Academy Director Alexandra Wysocki welcomed representatives from over a dozen law enforcement agencies to the Hammond Main Lounge yesterday afternoon for the  Career Services and Advising Center's Law Enforcement Reverse Career Fair. A reverse career fair flips the table, students stationed at tables get a chance to pitch themselves to employers, who in turn get quality one-on-one time with job seekers.

Criminal Justice Professor Eileen Kirk welcomed alumni to her First Year Experience (FYE): Behavioral Sciences course today to discuss various aspects of the criminal justice system. Nicole Berthiaume'06,'13 of LifeStance Health, Maeghan Alansky '24 of the  Fitchburg District Court, Travis Morcaldi '22, '23 of the Fitchburg Police Department, and Jevon Brown-Simpson '18 of the Massachusetts Department of Correction discussed their experiences at Fitchburg State University and how it lead them to their current careers.

Students in Professor Michael S. McCutcheon's Criminal Investigation course got to try their hands at fingerprint collecting. After leaving their own fingerprints on various surface types, the students dusted, and lifted the prints using situation/surface specific methodologies. The course will enables the student to understand the fundamentals of the criminal investigation process. They will explore investigative techniques in crime scene search, collection and use of evidence and information. This semester students are using Dr. McCutcheon's recently published Crime Scene Workbook. Learn more about our Criminal Justice Program here.

Economics, History and Political Science Professor Paul Weizer, introduced  Criminal Justice Program  Professor Michael S. McCutcheon  in the Ellis White Lecture Hall. As part of Fitchburg State University's week long observation of Constitution Day 2025 McCutcheon presented "Due Process and Law Enforcement." The week full of events are organized by the General Education Program co-sponsored with the Office of Student Engagement and the Student Government Association.

Fitchburg State University is marking Constitution Day 2025 with a week full of events organized by the General Education Program co-sponsored with the Office of Student Engagement and the Student Government Association. Wednesday It continued with the Keynote Address. After an introduction by Assistant Professor Eileen Kirk of our Criminal Justice Program,  Justice David J. Breen, and Justice Lisa Ann Grant discussed Due Process and the Rule of Law.

The 13 members of the 8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) at Fitchburg State were sworn in as police officers on Friday September 12, 2025 before an audience of family, friends, elected leaders and public safety professionals. All of the graduates of our groundbreaking program have already been hired by police departments across the state. As President Donna Hodge told the assembled graduates and audience, “This academy is more than a program, It is a promise. A promise that public higher education and public safety can work hand in hand. A promise that innovation and integrity can meet in the same training ground. A promise that Massachusetts can lead the nation in preparing those who serve and protect." Read the full article here.

This morning President Hodge, Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier, members of the University Police, Military and Veteran Services Director Nolan Buck, university faculty and staff, local dignitaries, and more joined with Fitchburg Fire Department (FFD) at their North Street Headquarters, adjacent to the university, to commemorate lives lost during the attacks on 9/11/2001. The ceremony was held at the 9/11 memorial outside Fire Department headquarters - a piece of a steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center anchors the memorial.

Criminal Justice Professor Dr. David Weiss went over the lesson plan for his Domestic Terror & Hate Crime in the McKay Campus School this morning. This course introduces students to the variety of extremist groups within the United States and examines their history, nature, extent and dangerousness. It also explores hate crime, a relatively new responsibility of the criminal justice system. Students will look at the social construction of hate crime and issues concerning its enforcement.

the 8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) was joined by Massachusetts District Attorney Association, Director of Training Jessica Stone, ADA David Yasinovsky along with interns Justin Xu, and Keiran Clark for mock trial sessions This exercise gives the students a feel for how they will be examined in a court proceeding.

In addition to all of their coursework, physical training, defensive tactics, hands-on training, etc., the Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) staff have stressed the importance of public speaking. Student Officers are expected to be able to speak extemporaneously on a variety of topics daily. This reinforces the students ability to think on their feet and express themselves clearly and concisely. Yet another "soft" skill that will help them succeed as law officers.