A number of officers from central Maine were among the state’s 60 newest police officers as the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro held graduation Friday morning.

The new officers, who mostly come from the local and county ranks, according to a news release from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland, spent 18 weeks at the academy.

New officers studied topics including crime scene processing, emergency vehicle operation, first aid, traffic and criminal law, domestic violence and sexual assault.

“Most of the new officers will begin patrolling immediately, in time for Christmas and New Year’s enforcement efforts,” the release said.

Central Maine officers who graduated include Jesse A. Clement, Carrabassett Valley Police Department; Blake M. Wilder, Fairfield Police Department; Nicholas A. Covell, Newport Police Department; Michael C. Bachelder and Christopher J. Viera, Skowhegan Police Department; Luis M. Rodriguez, Waterville Police Department; Dale A. Martin Jr., Winslow Police Department; and Joshua M. Hammond and Tyler W. Nadeau, Winthrop Police Department.

Also graduating were 11 state trooper recruits who McCausland said will undergo an additional 10 weeks of state police training beginning in February.


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