The Cambridge Police announced that 26 new police officers graduated today from the second Cambridge-Northeastern Police Academy class following a special graduation ceremony that was streamed virtually for family members of the class. The graduating officers will join their respective departments after successfully completing training, which started on Monday, January 6 and continued virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new Officers represented seven different departments from the greater Boston area. In addition to the Cambridge and Northeastern Police Departments, the other participating agencies were Abington, Avon, Brookline, Chelsea and Randolph.
The second class, one of the most diverse classes in recent history, includes 12 new Cambridge Police Officers.
- Six of the 12 graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS)
- Five of the 12 Officers are Black, Hispanic or Middle Eastern
- Three of the 12 Officers are women
- The class leader – Officer Samuel Houston – was from the Cambridge Police Department. Officer Houston was also presented with the Husky Award, Academic Achievement Award and Top Gun Award.
- Cambridge Police Officer Quentin Pasquarello was a co-recipient of the Academic Achievement Award.
- Cambridge Police Officer Isaiah McLeod was presented with the Physical Fitness Award.
The Cambridge - Northeastern Police Academy is a Massachusetts Police Training Council (MPTC) certified training academy for new student officers. All elements of the Academy experience are aligned with the four pillars of procedural justice: fairness, voice, transparency, and impartiality. Recruits learn that policing is a “people business” and that their success as officers will depend in great part on their ability to listen to and talk with the community members whom they encounter. A key element of the training is the focus on experiential learning by having officers engage in scenario-based activities and community outreach. The academy is hosted at Northeastern University’s main campus in Boston.
For pictures and archived video from today’s virtual graduation, please visit www.facebook.com/CambridgePolice.