Quigley, Pierce Graduate State Police Academy

Editor's note: At the request of several readers, we have included Pat Scanlon in this article. According to the MSP, Pat is from Wilmington. But, we know Pat has worked in Woburn and we didn't want to forget him!

Former Woburn Police Officer Scott Quigley is now officially a Massachusetts State Police trooper. He and Woburn resident Christopher Pierce graduated from the MSP Academy Friday afternoon.

Troopers Quigley and Pierce join 206 others as the 2012 graduating class.

Pat Scanlon also graduated Friday. Prior to joining the MSP ranks, Scanlon worked for the Woburn Department of Public Works.

"This is the first new class of State Police recruits to join the ranks in more than five years," said MSP Spokesman David Procopio. "It is an extremely important class to the department, which is currently down some 500 troopers, through normal attrition."

During the 21-week academy in New Braintree, the troopers took academic classes and learned physical training, defensive tactics, firearms training and scenario training.

Procopio noted that the scenario training for the 208 recruits included: "75 simulated incidents designed to reflect the situations troopers may find themselves in once on the job, including a rampaging shooter inside a building to minor car crashes and everything in between."

Trooper Quigley, who worked several shifts at Woburn Police before leaving for the academy, along with Pierce, will be assigned to field training officers for three months of road patrols.

The 2012 graduating class includes former police officers, firefighters, attorneys, teachers and more. Also, 103 of the troopers are military veterans—80 of which served tours of duty in Afghanistan, Iraq or both.

“I am pleased that we were able to secure the resources to make this happen for the State Police class, which includes some of the bravest, strongest and smartest citizens from every corner of the Commonwealth," said Gov. Deval Patrick at the Friday ceremony.

Colonel Marian McGovern spoke to the graduating class on Friday, noting it is the troopers' "heart" that will help them succeed in their new job.

“Your commandant, your training directors, your drill instructors, your firearms and fitness and defensive tactics instructors have all given you the tools you need to succeed,” said Colonel McGovern. “That is, all the tools but one."

"The final piece, the quality upon which all the other skills and tools depend, is found inside each one of you," she added. "You brought it with you when you arrived in New Braintree that Monday morning in October more than five months ago. That quality is called heart and the fire that burns within it, that animates all you have learned. It is your heart that will allow you to be brave in the face of danger, relentless in your pursuit of justice, fair in your interactions with the public, and compassionate to those who look to you for help in their most vulnerable moments.”