VASSALBORO — Maine's nine newest state police troopers, including two who will serve in the Midcoast region, received their badges in ceremonies at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro Friday, April 10. The troopers completed ten weeks of specialized state police training and will now patrol with a veteran trooper, before beginning patrols on their own.

The chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams told the new troopers to treat everyone with respect. "Your reputation is your name , and your name is your bond. You get only one name and if you ruin it, you can't get another," according to a news release.

The chief said State Police continue to seek men and women interested in a career as a state trooper and the next training for prospective troopers will begin in August. Applications and information are available on the State Police web page www.maine.gov/dps/msp.

The new troopers are:

Troop A (York County) – Michael Lane of Medfield, Mass. He is a graduate of Endicott College and was captain of the college's football team when he was a senior.

Troop B (Androscoggin, Oxford and Cumberland counties) – Martin Royle of Lovell. Royle grew up in England and served in the British Army.

Troop C (Somerset, Kennebec and Franklin counties) - Andrew Hardy of Farmington. Hardy is a former Wilton police officer. He graduated from Mt. Blue High School and the University of New Hampshire.

Troop D (Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo and Kennebec counties) -

Jeffrey Parks of Whitefield. He is a former Westbrook police officer and served in the Navy. Parks graduated from Erskine Academy in China and from the Citadel.

Klayton Peckham of West Gardiner. He is a member of the Maine Army National Guard and graduated from Gardiner High School and the University of Maine at Augusta.

Troop J (Washington and Hancock counties) – Caleb McGary of Dedham. He is a former police officer at the University of Maine at Orono. McGary is a graduate of Brewer High School and the University of Maine at Augusta.

And three of the nine new troopers have been assigned to Troop F in Aroostook County:

Eric Sucy of Belgrade. Sucy is a former Houlton police officer and graduated from Messalonskee High School in Oakland and Thomas College. He also served in the Air Force.

Travis Luce of Winthrop. Luce is a former reserve officer for the Mexico and Winthrop police departments. He is a graduate of Winthrop High School and is attending Husson University.

Gavin Endre of Cherryfield. Endre is a graduate of Narraguagus High School in Harrington and Husson University.