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Students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Nursing programs at Curry had a unique opportunity to learn from the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) during a full day of interactive exercises on campus.
Watch: Curry Students Receive Hands-On Training from MSP Professionals
Throughout the day, MSP officers worked closely with students from each discipline, guiding them through hands-on activities that explored common policing and emergency response scenarios. The collaboration allowed students to view these scenarios through multiple lenses– legal, forensic, and medical–while engaging directly with professionals in the field.
Several staged exercises took place across campus in designated locations. One of the sessions allowed students to respond to a simulated call for a domestic situation, while in another, they encountered a report of a disturbed individual in need of assistance. Staged accidents with multiple ambulances on scene were also set up, simulating an emergency response to a possible OUI, giving students a close-up look at the complexities of handling these situations. On the Academic Quad, MSP set up tents where students and community members could meet comfort dogs and talk to members of the dispatch and drone units.
"Learning about it in the classroom and then actually experiencing it makes it more real and makes you really realize how much the little things you do matter," explained Isabella Reyna '27.
Trooper Nate Montero, who helped organize the event, explained that the collaboration had been years in the making. "I’ve been in contact with (Curry Criminology and Criminal Justice) Professor Jennifer Balboni for about six to seven years. We’ve done a ton of speaking engagements, from classroom discussions to Q&A sessions," he said. "Over time, we decided to get the students out of the classroom, do a more practical approach, get more hands-on, so I came up with three different scenarios. It took a few months to organize it all, but I think the students are gaining a lot of different knowledge from a lot of different experienced troopers."
Montero emphasized that the goal was to let students experience what policing feels like beyond television portrayals. "They’re seeing how it feels to be in these scenarios, how to deal with people, how to deescalate situations, and that it’s not as easy as it looks on TV," he added.
Students who participated in the exercises shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experiences. For many, the professionalism shown by MSP stood out. "The officers were respectful and I enjoyed learning about how they handle these types of situations," said Kiwaane Gray ‘27. Others were struck by the realism of the scenarios, which challenged them to think critically in the moment.
The opportunity to participate in these scenarios also gave students a chance to reflect on the challenges of real-world policing and emergency response. "It was very eye-opening to see the realities of these professions because you never know what you’re walking into day to day. These exercises gave us a great opportunity to learn hands-on," said Nursing student Cam Sneyd.
In keeping with the educational focus, MSP officers wore less formal uniforms and did not carry any use-of-force equipment. The intent of this visit was partnership– giving students a chance to learn, ask questions, and practice their skills alongside professionals.