Police academy bolsters area forces

ANDOVER — Seventy-four police officers from 35 departments across the Commonwealth graduated as members of the fifth Recruit Officer Course from the Lynnfield Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) Police Academy at the J. Everett Collins Center on Monday.

Among the 35 departments, the Lynn, Peabody, Saugus, and Swampscott police departments graduated six, five, two, and three officers, respectively.

The Lynn Police Department graduated Anthony DeLeon, Genesis Encarnacion, Lashaunda Hogan, Rosely Ovalles, Marcus Tucker, and Rafael Velez Tucker.

“We are excited to have these new officers join the agency after their successful completion of the MPTC Lynnfield Academy,” Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy said. “The process to become a police officer is not an easy one, and over the last six months, these officers have had to commit themselves to achieving that goal. We look forward to their long and successful careers with our department, and serving our community and its citizens.”

Hogan, who is also the daughter of Lynn Ward 6 City Councilor Fred Hogan, said this was her second time attempting to become a police officer.

“Honestly, it feels amazing. This isn’t my first go at it. After the first time going through it (and) not making it through, the second time was definitely more special,” Lashaunda Hogan said.

Seeing her father’s impact on the community was part of what inspired her to become an officer, she said.

“I want to make that difference in my community and let those kids see more people who look like them,” Lashaunda Hogan said.

She said she is ready to start work on July 30 at 9 a.m. as a Lynn Police officer.

The Peabody Police Department graduated Daniel Canela, Luis Osario, Michael Perroni, Ryan Sauk, and Adam St. Pierre.

“We are very happy to have officers Osorio, Canela, Perroni, Sauk, and St. Pierre joining our department. I feel, based on the reports from the academy throughout the year, that they will all be very successful in their law-enforcement careers. We are fortunate that two of them are bilingual,” Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin said. “They will hit the ground running tomorrow and, following their field training, will be a great asset to our department and community.”

The Saugus Police Department graduated Christopher Benoit and Brendan Grocki.

Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said the department is excited to bring two new officers onboard.

“We’re getting two high-quality, high-character people,” he said. “All the reports we’ve gotten along the way were very, very positive.”

The Swampscott Police Department graduated Samuel Harrell, Nicole Magee, and Angelica Noble.

“Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey into the profession of public service. After a long 24 weeks of training, our officers will embark on a three-month field-training program. During this period, they will be assigned to a designated field-training officer, where they will apply the lessons learned in the police academy to situations in the field under the tutelage of a highly accomplished veteran field-training officer,” Swampscott Police Chief Ruben Quesada said. “Ultimately, once these officers successfully complete the field-training program, they will be able to provide the much-needed support to not only keep our department and town safe, but to oversee the multitude of operations and programs that are often unseen by the general public.”

The department has worked “tirelessly to fill the void in staffing challenges,” which towns and cities across the state have faced over the past two years, he said.

“We are grateful to see the hard work of our hiring team and community committee members finally come to fruition with the addition of these outstanding police officers,” Quesada said. “These officers are ready to embrace the culture of our department as the shepherds of community trust and constitutional policing. My advice to them is simple: Be proud yet humble, selfless, empathetic, constantly learning, but most importantly, dedicate your life to the service of others.”

In addition to the graduation of 74 new officers, MPTC Executive Director Robert Ferullo announced his retirement. Before becoming the executive director of the committee, Ferullo served as a police officer for 38 years, seven of them as the chief of the Woburn Police Department.

“Your badge today is bright and shiny, both literally and figuratively. Do everything you can to keep it that way,” he said, addressing the graduates.

He told the graduates that July 29, 2024 should be included as one of the most memorable days of their lives. He will share this day as the day he retired from the career he loves, Ferullo said.

“It was a special graduation where retired Chief Ferullo was honored. I have known Chief Ferullo for a long time and there is not an individual who is more dedicated to local policing than Bob. He will be sorely missed,” Griffin said.

The ceremony had a good “flow” compared to others, especially because of the portion honoring Ferullo’s retirement, Ricciardelli said.

“It was sad to see him go,” he said. “(He) brought us into the 21st century training-wise and I was looking forward to more of that from him. But I’m confident that whoever the next person is to take it over will do a great job also.”

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