Crime & Safety

Northborough Native Among Town's 2 New Police Officers

Thomas McDonald, and Michael Prizio, were appointed to the department Monday night.

Northborough native Thomas McDonald is among the town's two newest police officers.

Selectmen voted Monday night to appoint McDonald, 32, of Shrewsbury to the department, effective Jan. 10, 2014. The board also voted to extend him a three-year employment contract in lieu of his paying the $3,000 tuition for the police academy.

Selectmen also voted to appoint Michael Prizio, 26, of Auburn to the department, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Prizio has been a reserve police officer in Westborough since May, "is fully trained, and may begin his field training immediately, Police Chief Mark Leahy said.

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A resignation, and the addition of one position during this budget year, created the openings, Leahy said.

McDonald and Prizio were among five finalists, he said.

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"I'm very pleased. The quality of all five candidates at the end was remarkable. Absolutely remarkable," Leahy said.

A 1999 graduate of Algonquin Regional High School, McDonald has been a

full-time Northborough Police dispatcher since Feb. 20, 2007, Leahy said.

McDonald served as a Millville reserve police officer from October 2006 to March 2008. Northborough Police have reserved a seat for McDonald in the Boylston Regional Police Academy class that begins in January, Leahy said.

To fill the two Northborough vacancies, a national police officer screening test, which is a written exam, was taken by 108 people in the Algonquin Regional High School cafeteria in July, he said.

The top 40 scorers underwent a physical abilities assessment, based on a national standard, which included such tasks as a timed 1.5-mile run, Leahy said.


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