Tewksbury PD Welcomes Back Officer From Lowell Police Academy

TEWKSBURY, MA — The Tewksbury Police Department announced that one of its officers graduated from the Lowell Police Academy on Friday and has returned to the community for additional training.

Alexandra Bourassa was hired by the TPD and sent to the academy, where she spent 26 weeks training in all aspects of policing, like: criminal law, motor vehicle law, defensive tactics and firearms, to name a few. There was in-classroom and out-of-classroom work, including physical fitness.

Now, Bourassa is back with the TPD, where she will complete 12 weeks of field training (FTO), giving her a chance to apply what she learned in the academy.

"Officers in FTO are evaluated on a daily basis and must be successful in the completion of their field training to retain employment," Tewksbury Chief of Police Ryan Columbus told Patch. "It's a long but necessary road as policing is as complex and difficult as it has ever been. At the TPD, we also have very high expectations as to how officers perform and interact with the public."

Columbus said the Town of Tewksbury's recent approval of four new officers has taken the number of total sworn officers in the department to 67 from 63. However, seven officers currently are not counting toward staffing for a variety of reasons, including training and injuries.

"This has become extremely taxing on our officers, who are ordered into shifts on a regular basis," Columbus said.

The chief said the department is in the process of hiring and should be sending new officers to the Lowell Police Academy soon.

But Columbus said he is looking forward to the most recent academy graduate, Bourassa, becoming more integrated within the department.

"Officer Bourassa is a welcome addition," Columbus said. "We not only value her but all of our officers and civilian personnel. We take great pride in caring for all of our employees."