ORANGE — Three new officers were sworn in to serve the Orange Police Department at last week’s Selectboard meeting, bringing the department’s team back up to full staff.
With Noah Welch, Gracin Bisceglia and Bradley Jacques joining as full-time officers, the Police Department now consists of 13 officers.
“That brings us back to a full staff, which is huge for us,” Police Chief James Sullivan said.
Sullivan added that the department’s new administrative assistant, Kristen Rushford, is “doing amazing” since starting about three weeks ago.
“Now, the Police Department’s whole again,” he said, thanking the Selectboard and Finance Committee for their support.
Bisceglia and Jacques were hired in January as student officers to fill vacancies the Orange Police Department had had since the fall. They were sworn in on Wednesday after graduating from the state’s police academy.
The police chief had previously explained that Officer Jungfil Seo left the department to become a security manager for LG Energy Solution Arizona and Officer Sydney Richardson took her passion for fighting crimes against animals to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).
Bisceglia and Jacques are now completing their field training. At the Selectboard meeting, Sullivan said Bisceglia grew up in Orange and is following in the footsteps of his father, longtime Officer Christopher Bisceglia. Sullivan said Jacques grew up nearby in Athol.
Welch, on the other hand, decided to make the move to Orange after working at the Templeton Police Department, Sullivan said. Welch is filling the position vacated by Officer Benjamin Kovacevic, who resigned.
“When I ended up talking to a couple chiefs that found out we ended up picking up Noah, there was a little bit of jealousy with some of these other chiefs,” Sullivan said with a grin. “I’m really excited about having these guys get going and get working, so they’ll be out on the street real soon.”
The officers’ families and other supporters took photos and videos as Town Clerk Rachael Fortier led the swearing-in ceremony. Sullivan then shook the three officers’ hands as the audience applauded.
