Three Pinned as Newest Reading Police Officers

The Reading Police Department officially welcomed its three newest members earlier this week as a trio of newly hired officers was pinned during a ceremony at the Tuesday Board of Selectmen meeting.

Winchester resident Pat Dawley, Stoneham resident Michael Muolo and University of Massachusetts Boston graduate Laura Bullis were pinned as a large crowd of friends, family, and fellow officers filled the room at Town Hall.

Wednesday marked the first time officers were hired since the town withdrew from Civil Service requirements last spring. Police Chief James Cormier said the process was very successful and the town never would have found any of these candidates if it had not withdrawn from the requirements.

The new officers, who were chosen from a pool of nearly 400 applicants, spent six months in the Police Academy followed by field training that will conclude on October 1. Beginning that day, the new officers will officially be members of the department.

Cormier called the officers “the cream of the crop,” and said their credentials back that statement up.

Dawley graduated from Boston College and received two masters degrees from Suffolk University, Bullis graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Muolo graduated from Westfield State University. Muolo was also a member of the Vermont State Police before joining the Reading Police Department.

“This is one of my favorite activities that I get to take part in as Police Chief,” said Cormier. “The process was very successful and we are happy to have these officers.”