Massachusetts State Police Announce Major Academy Reforms Ahead of 93rd Recruit Training Troop

Changes strengthen recruit safety, training standards and accountability following independent review 

NEW BRAINTREE — The Massachusetts State Police today announced a series of significant reforms to its recruit academy training program ahead of the October 26 start of the 93rd Recruit Training Troop (RTT). The reforms strengthen the Academy’s curriculum, instructional approach, and leadership while reflecting the Department’s commitment to improving the recruit training experience and establishing a stronger foundation for the next generation of Troopers.

At Governor Maura Healey’s direction, State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble has prioritized Academy reform and dedicated significant resources to the critical improvements identified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) independent assessment. The Department developed an implementation plan to address the assessment’s 103 recommendations and delayed the start of the 93rd RTT to allow additional time to implement critical changes.

To date, the Department has implemented 22 priority recommendations identified in the IACP assessment, with work underway on nine additional recommendations. These milestones represent meaningful progress under the Department’s comprehensive plan to address all 103 recommendations. The Department has also engaged PFM Group Consulting LLC as an independent evaluator to assess progress, provide oversight and ensure accountability throughout the five-year reform process.

“The Massachusetts State Police Academy has a unique responsibility to impart the knowledge, skills, judgment, and leadership trainees need to meet the demands of modern policing and serve the public with honor and professionalism,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “We recognize that implementing these recommendations requires a sustained commitment to raising standards and challenging longstanding practices. We are grateful to the experienced professionals who have stepped forward to lead this work and to the independent experts helping guide our progress. Together, their contributions will strengthen the Academy and ensure the next generation of State Troopers is prepared to meet the demands of modern policing.” 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains committed to building safer communities by ensuring Massachusetts sets a national standard for police training, professionalism, and accountability,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Gina Kwon. “Governor Healey’s directive to independently assess the State Police Academy underscored the importance of identifying areas for improvement, addressing shortcomings, and holding ourselves accountable for meaningful, measurable progress. Supporting the men and women who serve on the front lines means ensuring they receive the training, leadership, and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. These reforms are an important investment in the next generation of State Troopers, the communities they serve, and public safety across the Commonwealth.” 

Priority reforms implemented ahead of the 93rd Recruit Training Troop include:

Instructional Approach  

The Department formally eliminated the title of “drill instructor” as part of a broader shift toward a more professional, supportive, and effective approach to recruit training. Approximately 15 sworn personnel will serve on the 93rd RTT’s leadership team, with responsibility to support recruit development, reinforce accountability, and maintain high training standards. In addition to the leadership cadre, a larger team of instructors will deliver specialized training in topics including defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operation, firearms, patrol procedure, and criminal law.    

The Department developed a new stress framework to strengthen how stress is understood, introduced, and managed throughout recruit training. The Department contracted with an outside medical expert in stress training, Dr. Jennifer Prohaska, to support the framework’s implementation with specialized instruction for Academy personnel and a dedicated session for trainees during orientation week. The framework is intended to ensure that stress serves clearly defined training objectives while supporting recruit development, safety, and readiness for the demands of policing. 

Curriculum and Graduation Standards  

The Department established comprehensive graduation standards under Article 11 of its rules and regulations, reinforcing expectations for trainees and providing a clearer framework for evaluating readiness to graduate and serve as a State Trooper. 

As part of the Academy’s defensive tactics curriculum, trainees will complete dedicated instruction in use-of-force, electronic control weapons, and de-escalation techniques. Trainees will be required to demonstrate mastery of the Department’s applicable policies, procedures, and appropriate use of approved defensive tactics by achieving a score of 100 percent on the associated written examinations. 

Recruit Health, Safety, and Wellness   

The Academy has expanded medical training and oversight to improve recruit safety and prevent injuries.

• Concussion awareness: The Department has engaged Eric M. Otterson, PA-C, a professor at Assumption University and physician assistant affiliated with UMass Memorial Health, to provide concussion awareness and response training to Academy instructors and trainees ahead of the 93rd RTT. Otterson brings experience in emergency medicine, outpatient pediatrics, and public safety, including 20 years of service with the Auburn Fire Department. The training will strengthen awareness of concussion-related injuries and reinforce the importance of recognizing and responding to potential medical concerns during recruit training. 

• Injury prevention: The Academy is expanding its collaboration with experts from UMass Memorial Medical Group to analyze recruit injuries, inform injury-prevention strategies, and strengthen the Department’s approach to health and safety. Medical experts will also have an increased presence at the Academy. 

• Recruit wellness: The Academy has established dedicated periods within the daily training schedule for rest, recovery, and personal care, recognizing the importance of physical and mental readiness throughout recruit training. Trainees will have uninterrupted time to eat meals and designated opportunities during the training to communicate with family and loved ones. These changes are intended to support trainee well-being while maintaining the rigorous standards and expectations of the Academy. 

Academy Leadership Appointments  

In response to the IACP’s recommendations to strengthen leadership continuity and accountability at the State Police Academy, the Department is building a leadership team, including a new civilian Director of Training, with the expertise and clearly defined responsibilities needed to advance a consistent, safety-focused approach to recruit training.  

Andrea Nardone, Academy Director of Training 

Nardone brings extensive experience in law enforcement training, curriculum development, and statewide police reform implementation. Most recently, she served as Chief of Training at the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), where she oversaw training standards and instructional consistency across 15 municipal police academies throughout the state. In that role, she helped lead the implementation of training requirements established under Massachusetts’ landmark 2020 police reform law, strengthening instructor development, curriculum standards, and accountability. She also worked closely with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission on statewide use-of-force policy and regulations. Previously, Nardone served as Director of Training for the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, where she developed statewide training programs for prosecutors and law enforcement officers. She also served as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, bringing extensive legal and prosecutorial experience to her approach to police training. Nardone earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Providence College. 

Captain Michael Blanchette, Academy Commandant 

Blanchette brings 28 years of law enforcement experience spanning municipal policing, criminal investigations, operational command, and professional accountability. He began his career with the Chicopee Police Department before joining the Massachusetts State Police as a member of the 76th Recruit Training Troop. Throughout his State Police career, he has served in leadership and investigative roles, including as a shift commander, supervisor in the State Police Detective Unit assigned to Hampden County, and Detective Lieutenant in the Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability. In that role, he conducted internal investigations, mentored fellow investigators, and developed training to strengthen investigative practices and professional accountability. A State Police Academy instructor since 2019, Blanchette has trained recruits and provided leadership development for newly promoted Sergeants and Lieutenants. He holds multiple instructor certifications through the Municipal Police Training Committee, including in front-line leadership, academic instruction, and report writing, and has completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association’s (FBI-LEEDA) Leadership Trilogy Award. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Blanchette holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College. He also previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Western New England University. 

Dean Aresco, Academy Director of Physical Training 

Aresco brings extensive experience in state police recruit training, physical fitness instruction, and strength and conditioning program development. He holds a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut, providing a foundation in the science of physical performance and conditioning. During his 20-year career with the Connecticut State Police, he served in several leadership roles, including as Executive Officer of the Connecticut State Police Training Academy, where he coordinated recruit training, managed the statewide Field Training Officer Program, and instructed Academy personnel in teaching methods. Previously, as a physical fitness instructor at the Academy, he designed and implemented recruit physical training programs and developed fitness and wellness curricula to support trainee readiness and performance. Aresco also served in operational leadership positions, including as a Master Sergeant and Executive Officer of Troop F. Before entering law enforcement, he held senior strength and conditioning positions at the University of San Diego and Towson University and worked with athletes at the United States Olympic Training Center. He also maintains professional certifications in tactical strength and conditioning, law enforcement fitness, and strength and conditioning instruction. 

These reforms reflect the Department and the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s shared commitment to challenging longstanding practices, embracing new approaches, and strengthening how we prepare future State Troopers for fulfilling careers of public service characterized by professionalism, honor, and integrity.

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