{"id":27687,"date":"2018-02-26T20:05:25","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T01:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2018\/02\/27\/necc-methuen-police-academy-graduates-56\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:19:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:19:02","slug":"necc-methuen-police-academy-graduates-56","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2018\/02\/26\/necc-methuen-police-academy-graduates-56\/","title":{"rendered":"NECC\/Methuen Police Academy Graduates 56"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Student Officers marched into the NECC Sport & Ftness Center during the police academy graduation.<\/p><\/div>\n

Attending the Northern Essex Community College\/Methuen Police Academy is like earning your associate degree, playing a varsity sport, and being in the military all at once, said Thomas Fleming, director of the academy as he addressed the 56 student officers and their families and friends during Friday, February 23, graduation in the NECC Sport & Fitness Center.<\/p>\n

The class, which included a former flight attendant, a DJ, a minister, a correctional officer, and an accountant, was the fifth class to graduate since the inception of the academy on NECC\u2019s Haverhill campus.<\/p>\n

The event began with a processional of the Irish American Police Officers Association, Pipes & Drums, Police Department Honor Guard, staff instructors and student officers.<\/p>\n

Student officer Izinna Lytle of the Pittsfield Police Department sang the national anthem.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Graduating student officers applaud Class President Thomas Slavin.<\/p><\/div>\n

The opening prayer\u00a0was offered by student officer Daniel Ko of the Gordon College Police Department who said \u201c\u2026we pray for the blessing of your protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera, who watched as seven of Lawrence\u2019s police officers graduated, commended the academy for producing \u201cquality police officers\u201d. He commended the graduates on their career choice. \u201cThey have the most difficult job in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

He encouraged them to get involved in their community by coaching a sports team or being a scout leader.<\/p>\n

Methuen Mayor James Jajuga, who oversaw six Methuen officers graduate, told the graduates, \u201cYou have the best job in America,\u201d he said to applause. \u201cYou have the ability to shape and change lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

He cautioned them against falling into cynicism. \u201cTreat everybody the way you want to be treated,\u201d he<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Student officers participate in the academy graduation.<\/p><\/div>\n

said. \u201cBe strong and proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel Zivkovich, the executive director of the Municipal Police Training Committee, I commend and thank you for your career choice. He told them their jobs as police officers would prove to be both \u201crewarding and challenging\u2026 there is nothing more noble.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that in today\u2019s world of social media they should expect to be watched closely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a right to hold us accountable\u2026 Your community is the world,\u201d he said, \u201cBe a person of exceptional character\u2026in everything you say. In everything you do. Serve with honor… Do what\u2019s right because it\u2019s the right thing to do. Serve with courage. It takes courage to serve ethically and with integrity. Serve with commitment to the community, the profession, and self\u2026 There is no room for mediocrity in policing\u201d.<\/p>\n

Fleming lauded NECC President Lane Glenn, who was unable to attend the ceremony, for recognizing the need for training first responders and taking the lead in opening the campus to the academy, which now uses the gymnasium, classrooms, and fields.<\/p>\n

George Moriarty, Executive Director, Center of Corporate and Community Education, spoke on President Glenn\u2019s behalf \u201cAs you know, today there are so many challenges facing police officers \u2026it\u2019s important to have a connections between higher education and the police academy.<\/p>\n

He noted that the academy has already graduated over 200 recruits through five cycles of training. The next class had more than 100 applic<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A graduating Lawrence police officer receives his pin.<\/p><\/div>\n

ants of which 80 were selected to enroll. \u201cThis is an indication of the need\u2026and strength of this program\u201d<\/p>\n

Student Officer and Class President Thomas Slavin of the Beverly Police Department, addressed the class. \u201cPeople get into law enforcement for different reasons. Whether they joined after 911 or because of family, regardless of the \u201creasons that brought us here on September 5, we\u2019ve transformed from individuals into a tight-knit class\u201d.<\/p>\n

The class raised and donated $1,000 to Special Olympics. Meghan Hoffman accepted the donation saying, \u201claw enforcement is one of Special Olympic\u2019s fasting growing partners\u201d.<\/p>\n

All the graduates completed an intensive 24-week program that covered constitutional law, prevention
\nand intervention, community policing, domestic violence, elder abuse, victims\u2019 rights, and other topics. All training took place on the Haverhill Campus except for firearms training and emergency driving techniques, which were held, at off-campus locations.<\/p>\n

Northern Essex manages the academy with guidance from an advisory board that includes police chiefs from Amesbury, Haverhill, Methuen, Lawrence, and North Andover. The NECC\/Methuen Police Academy is authorized by the Municipal Police Training Commi<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A graduating officer is pinned.<\/p><\/div>\n

ttee.<\/p>\n

The academy opened in February 2015 in response to a shortage of academies in the area. At the time, Haverhill Police Chief Alan DeNaro, said that the Merrimack Valley has needed a regional police academy for over 25 years. \u201cBy partnering with NECC, we will be able to move quickly and efficiently train our new recruits as they embark on their chosen profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information, contact George Moriarty at\u00a0gmoriarty@necc.mass.edu<\/a>\u00a0or 978 556-1224.<\/p>\n

Here is alist of the 56 2018 Police Academy graduates – R.O.C. 3<\/a> and R.O.C. 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of the awards<\/a> given at graduation.<\/p>\n\n\t\t