Waltham PD, Middlesex Sheriff Partner To Offer Hands-On Training

WALTHAM, MA — The Waltham Police Department (WPD) and Middlesex Sheriff's Office (MSO) have partnered to offer interactive, scenario-based training by utilizing the office's Mobile Training Center (MTC).

From July 5 through 16, 55 members of WPD participated in the training, which included skill-building exercises and virtual scenarios that allowed them to train for real-life situations. This is the fifth consecutive year the department has used the MTC.

“This partnership that we have developed with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has become an integral part of our training program at WPD,” said Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell in a statement. “The Mobile Training Center gives our officers the opportunity to develop new techniques, while honing de-escalation and other tactics that have been utilized by WPD for years."

The MTC is a specialized trailer that give officers an opportunity to work one-on-one with WPD instructors and MSO deputies and go through a series of scenarios focused on mental health crisis, nighttime traffic stops, and domestic disputes.

“Each day Waltham police officers – and officers across Middlesex County – work to keep our communities safe,” said Sheriff Peter Koutoujian in a statement. “As Chief O’Connell noted, the partnership between Waltham PD and the MSO ensures that local officers have the opportunity to participate in the interactive, scenario-based training that is available on the MTC."

MSO purchased the MTC with federal grant funds in 2010. In 2020, over 875 officers participated in trainings in the MTC and it has already been used by over 500 municipal officers from multiple departments.