Contributed photoVASSALBORO — Travis D. Smith of the Houlton Police Department was among Maine’s 61 newest police officers who graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
The officers spent 18 weeks in study and training and most will begin patrolling immediately, in time for New Year’s Eve enforcement efforts.
The graduation speaker was Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, who told the new officers, “Your law enforcement career will be challenging, ever-changing and enormously fulfilling. Your new job is to make us safe and your mission is to make us a better community.”
Among the many topics the officers studied were crime scene processing, emergency vehicle operation, first aid, traffic and criminal law, domestic violence and sexual assault. Among the graduates were 14 state police trooper recruits, and game and marine wardens, who will continue training with their departments before patrolling on their own.
