Mass. State Police Academy Graduates First Class Since 2006
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The Massachusetts State Police Academy is graduating its first class of new troopers in six years.
More than 200 trainees are scheduled to be honored during the ceremony at noon Friday in the DCU Center in Worcester. It's the largest graduating class in academy history and the first since 2006.
The new troopers underwent 21 weeks of intensive training that includes classroom study, physical training, defensive tactics and role play in real-world scenarios.
State Police commander Col. Marian McGovern says the new troopers are needed to replace some of the 500 who have retired or otherwise left the force in the last five years during a time of tighter budgets.
McGovern is expected to be joined at Friday's ceremony by Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
