A few hundred gathered for a ceremony and buffet at White Cliffs Banquet Hall in Northborough on Thursday to welcome and witness the swearing in of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police 2011 board members. This included the year's president, Mark Leahy, Northborough's chief of police, who will replace the outgoing president Mary Lyons. 

Leahy came to Northborough in April 2003, following 21 years with the Connecticut State Police and three years as the chief of police in Southfield, CT. 

Ceremoniously celebrated with the Massachusetts Police officers falling in line, as well as a singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" and trumpet performance, Leahy was ushered in to his new position with speeches by notable dignitaries, including Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Northborough Town Administrator John Coderre.

Coakley addressed the issues of public perception, as well as combating newer threats such as cyber bullying.

"There are few resources and there is more stress on every chief in every commuity," she said, "and as we look at where we will be in ten years in public safety, I'd like to be a part of that ... congratulations and I look forward to working with you."

Early discussed the arsonist fire of 2008, which happened early on in his tenure as district attorney, and a fire that torched the Northborough Shopping Center, causing more than $2 million in damages. 

"The fact that this case was solved," said Early, "is testament to the leadership of Leahy and those who work under him. He practices the kind of proactive law enfocement that I've come to admire."