Our Police Program students teamed up with McKay Campus School to mentor the next generation. By leading presentations on anti-bullying, these future officers are proving that "serving and protecting" starts with building a kinder community.

 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. In this lab, students use various methods to create blood spatter patterns, then perform blood spatter analysis. Bloodstain Pattern Analysis a forensic discipline that interprets the size, shape, and distribution of bloodstains at a crime scene to reconstruct events, such as identifying the positioning of individuals, weapon type, and mechanism of bloodshed.   

Director of Admissions Tony Trodella welcomed students enrolled in Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School's Public Safety program to campus this morning to learn about our Criminal Justice (CJ) & Fitchburg State University Police Program. Criminal Justice Professor Michael S. McCutcheon led a Police Program/CJ info session and mock lesson with current student available to answer questions. Director of Admissions Tony Trodella then gave highlights of Fitchburg State University, including how to apply with a campus tour following. Last, but not least, was lunch at our Holmes Dining Commons before departure back to Northampton, MA. 

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.

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.

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.

Spencer Police Sergeant Patrick Waugh took the 8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) outside of the McKay Campus School to review proper motor vehicle stop procedure. Later on, the Student Officers will be given various scenarios to work through in teams.

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.

Students in the 8th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) began their motor vehicle stops coursework this morning with Spencer Police Sergeant Patrick Waugh.