Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Skills learned at Police Academy in Vassalboro are being put to use by a member of the Fort Fairfield Police Department who recently completed classes, graduating December 2009. “Classes ran from Aug. 17 to Dec. 18. It was a total of 18 weeks of training, with topics of instruction including traffic, communications, investigations and patrol,” said Officer Matthew “Matt” Cummings.
Cummings said the class was relatively small, compared to prior classes.
“We had the smallest graduating class, with 12 total,” he said.
“Budget cuts in many communities resulted in fewer departments being able to send staff to attend the academy,” said Sgt. Shawn Newell, FFPD. “Fortunately we were able to send Matt.”
Cummings said the lack of students proved to be a plus for those in attendance, with more one-on-one time between instructors and class members.
“There was more opportunity to work directly with the instructors. It also created a close-knit group, because there were only 24 of us — smallest number in the past 12 classes of the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program,” said Cummings.
Most of the class came from municipal police forces, he said.
Students had to complete hundreds of hours of instruction before graduation.
“We did 720 hours of training in all aspects of police work,” said Cummings.
A 2002 graduate of Van Buren High School, Cummings got his start in law enforcement working as a reserve officer for the Van Buren Police Department in 2003. Since then, he’s worked at the Ashland and Presque Isle police departments, before assuming duties with the FFPD upon being hired June 2, 2009. Attending the academy was a dream come true for the young officer.
“I’d had a health issue that delayed my attending. I was finally able to take part last fall and was thrilled to be able to graduate,” said Cummings, noting the Dec. 18 ceremony was an early Christmas present for he and his family. “This is something I’ve wanted for a long time.”
Cummings is looking forward to his duties with the department, including continuing his education.
“I’d like to do field training, including tasers. This is a good group and community to work with,” said Cummings.
This isn’t the first time Newell and Cummings have worked together. The two first met while working for the PIPD. The camaraderie was evident while interviewing the two officers.
“He’s an outstanding addition to the force. We’re very pleased to have him here,” said Newell. “He’s ambitious and fair – a credit to the department.”
“It was a pleasure to work with Matt in Presque Isle. I was pleased to learn I’d be working with him again when I joined the FFPD,” said Newell. “The people of Fort Fairfield are lucky to have such a dedicated officer looking out for them.”