The Melrose Police Department is pleased to announce the academy graduation of the three newest officers of the Melrose Police Department.
Officers Alexander Wilson, Ashley Baldwin and Lucas Kaestner graduated from the Lowell Police Academy on Friday, Dec. 11. A socially distanced swearing in ceremony was held on Monday, Dec. 14. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s gathering size restrictions, there was no formal graduation ceremony like the ones typically hosted by the academy.
“I am excited to welcome these three new officers to the force,” Mayor Paul Brodeur said. “Their diverse skills and training will benefit the department and the community now and in the future.”
“We are excited to have these three new officers among our ranks and congratulate them on completing their intensive academy training,” Chief Michael Lyle said. “They will certainly be a great asset to our department and we wish them all the best as they complete their field training in the coming weeks.”
The police academy is 24 weeks long and consists of more than 900 hours of a combination of practical and classroom training, certifications and service to the community. Some of the classes include first aid, law, applied patrol procedures, firearms, report writing, active shooter training, specialized driving and self defense. All in-person trainings are done in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Officer Wilson served in the United States Coast Guard after graduating from the Massachusetts Marine Academy in 2016, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in international maritime business. Wilson is currently working on earning a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Baldwin worked as a nurse in the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital and a nurse on the medical-surgical telemetry unit at Winchester Hospital prior to joining the Melrose Police Department. She graduated from Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Kaestner worked as an armed security officer for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) in Cambridge prior to joining the Melrose Police Department. He worked as an intern for the department in 2017 and graduated from Merrimack College with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, with a double minor in United States history and political science.
All three will now complete a 10-week field training program.
