The 21 members of the5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) at Fitchburg State were sworn in as police officers on Friday before an audience of family, friends, elected leaders and public safety professionals. Most of the graduates of our groundbreaking program have already been hired by police departments across the state. As the executive director of the Municipal Police Training Committee told the assembled graduates, they are poised to be future leaders in their profession. Good luck!

Watch the ceremony here.

Topics: Events, Community, Police Program

Lisa Lane McCarty, Director of the Fitchburg State University Police Program, program staff, and the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) held a walk-through for tomorrow morning's Police Program Graduation: 5th ROC. Expected at the ceremony are President Lapidus, local dignitaries, members of police departments from across Massachusetts, as well as proud family members.

Topics: Events, Our Students, Community, Police Program

 This morning, Somerville Police Department Detective Mario Oliveira (Ret.) shared his poignant story with the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC). On November 2, 2010, while assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Boston Field office as a Task Force Agent, Detective, Detective Oliveira was shot six times at point blank range while serving a Federal arrest warrant. 

Topics: Student Experience, Community, Police Program

Today, Sgt. Justin Starkus of the Auburn MA Police Department instructed the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) how to administer a breathalyzer exam after an OUI stop. After extensive instructions and quizzing, the recruits were tasked with successfully completing all the steps legally necessary to perform the breathalyzer test. Sgt. Starkus reviewed the completed tests for procedural accuracy.

Topics: Student Experience, Programs and Majors, Police Program

This morning, the 5th  Fitchburg State University Police Program's   Recruit Officer Course  (ROC)  continued their coursework entitled Working with Persons with Mental Illness. Here, Instructors Retired Detective Bobby Wile and Clinician Lori Myles shared personal stories and tops on self care to deal with the stress of police work. 

 

Topics: Our Students, vocational education, Programs and Majors, Police Program

This week, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) is off campus for their Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC). This morning, students worked on braking.

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, Programs and Majors, Police Program

This morning, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) had their MPTC-required 8 week PT Assessment at a local track. They had to hit the 40% Cooper standards for their age and gender for sit ups, push-ups, a mile and a half run, and a 300 meter sprint. These photos are of the timed  mile and a half run.

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, Programs and Majors, Police Program

Today, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) culminated their three day speed radar course with some practical application. Initially, Recruit Officers raced against each other for bragging rights. Afterward, with the help of staff drivers, they were given the opportunity to practice with the speed-range/range devices on Rindge Rd. right outside the McKay Arts Academy. 

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, Programs and Majors, Police Program

Yesterday, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) were given the opportunity to experience the interview process with Sherborn Police Chief Tom Galvin. Chief Galvin, who has run this program each year, first has the Recruit Officers write their own set of interview questions and practice the interview process on each other. Following that, Chief Galvin, assisted this year by Sterling Police  Sergeant Steven Fugere preformed his own interview and then debriefed each student and gave them feedback to better hone their interview skills. For many students, this was their first experience with the interview process.

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, information session, Programs and Majors, Police Program

Yesterday, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's   Recruit Officer Course  (ROC) received some important specialized training yesterday, an extra class offered to them which falls outside of the required Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) academy curriculum.

Members of the Metro-LEC Crisis Negotiation Team came out to talk to the class about their role at calls involving barricaded subjects. The instructors also highlighted that negotiations occur in all types and levels of relationships and taught techniques that the Recruits could use both on and off the job.

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, Programs and Majors, Police Program