Welcome, Officer Ryan MacDonald

Timing is everything - for me, it meant stopping by Nashua Police Station for an unrelated matter and get an invitation to join in on the swearing in ceremony for Nashua's newest recruit, Ryan MacDonald, 22, of Hudson.

For MacDonald it meant patience -- although he took the police exam a year ago, he was unavailable -- preoccupied with finishing up a four-year stint with the U.S. Coast Guard.

But Chief John Seusing said MacDonald was worth waiting for, and will be a "real asset" to the force.

MacDonald had his brother, Tyler, pin his badge on for him. He will now go through the 14-week police academy training, graduating in December, Seusing said.

"This is something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was a kid," MacDonald said.