This morning, our Fitchburg State Police Academy Recruit Officer Course (ROC) had the profound privilege of hearing from Caitlyn Tarentino, sister of fallen Auburn Ma Police  Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr.

Officer Tarentino made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on May 22, 2016, following a traffic stop. Caitlyn shared intimate stories of her brother’s life, his unwavering dedication to public service, and what it truly means to wear the badge with honor.

Moments like this remind our recruits of the sacred duty they are stepping into—and the legacy of bravery they are bound to uphold. Thank you, Caitlyn, for sharing Officer Tarentino’s story with our future law enforcement leaders.

Honoring service, sacrifice, and the badge.

Yesterday afternoon, recruits in our Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy  Recruit Officer Course (ROC) took their crash investigation training to the next level.

Under the guidance of (Ret.) Det. Steve Foley of the Walpole Police Department, cadets tackled real-time crash scenarios. To make the training as authentic as possible, two current Criminal Justice students and three program graduates (who are now working police officers) stepped in to roleplay.

After navigating each scenario on the fly, recruits received detailed, constructive feedback from Det. Foley to refine their technique. 

Recruits in Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy  Recruit Officer Course (ROC) began their specialized module in Crash Investigation, led by Detective Steve Foley (Ret.) of the Walpole Police Department.

By learning directly from veteran practitioners like Det. Foley, our ROC recruits gain practical, evidence-based insights into scene documentation, vehicle dynamics, and investigative reporting—preparing them to serve their future communities with the highest level of professionalism.

 Chief Peter J. Buck of the Petersham Police Department is heading up the motor vehicle law module for the 9th Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy Recruit Officer Course (ROC). 

Sgt. Salis of the Natick Police Department culminated the Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy Recruit Officer's three day speed radar course with some practical application. He brought the recruits out of the classroom to test their speed measurement skills against radar and lidar tracking outside of the Wallace Civic Center. 

Sgt. Salis of the Natick Police Department continued the Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy Recruit Officer Course (ROC) Speed Measurement course with LIDAR and equipment familiarization. 

Building the skills to keep our communities safe. Recruits in the Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy Recruit Officer Course (ROC) kicked off a comprehensive, three-day Speed Measurement course led by Sgt. Salis of the Natick Police Department. To add to the hands-on training, Academy Instructor Sgt. Jeffrey Giles of the Townsend Police Dept also stepped in to share invaluable field experiences and real-world insights on effectively enforcing speeding laws.

Our 9th Recruit Officer Course (ROC) is learning that real police work requires sharp minds just as much as sharp tactical skills. This week, Drill Instructor Lt. John Boucher of the Ashburnham Police Department traded his command voice for a slide deck, leading the academy through their intensive Report Writing course. In law enforcement, a report is easily one of the most critical, high-stakes tools an officer possesses. It’s the official blueprint of an incident—and a well-written report can make or break a case long before it ever reaches a courtroom. Our recruits are putting in the hours to ensure their documentation is flawless, objective, and ironclad. 

The 9th Recruit Officer Course (ROC) at Fitchburg State University is continued their rigorous Criminal Law training module under the guidance of Capt. Ronald Young. Building on their foundational knowledge, the class spent the session diving even deeper into complex case studies. Recruits are actively evaluating how historical and modern legal precedents directly dictate constitutional policing, search and seizure laws, and split-second decision-making on the job. Every day in the classroom brings them one step closer to serving our communities with excellence and precision. 

After wrapping up their Interviews and Interrogations coursework with Criminal Justice Professor Michael S. McCutcheon, recruits in the Fitchburg State Police Program’s ROC put their skills to the test in real-world scenarios. A huge thank you to the local law enforcement officers who stepped in to play the roles of victims—including Academy alumni Off. Sean McCue (Fitchburg PD) and Off. Kayla Forbes (Randolph PD)! Other active officers observed and debriefed the students, giving our future law enforcement precise, actionable feedback.