New National Guardsmen look to a positive future.

Byline: Samantha Allen

WORCESTER -- Just after leaving the auditorium stage Friday as newly-graduated police officers, the men gathered in a huddle for words of encouragement from their commanding officers.

They were told that as members of the National Guard -- and the nation's first class of military police to enter an accelerated course for municipal policing -- they could be called to dangerous missions ahead.

"Look at what's happening in the world,'' said one sergeant, pointing out National Guard members have been called to protests in Ferguson, Missouri, to respond to the Ebola outbreak and now violence in Baltimore after Freddie Gray, a black man, suffered a spinal injury that led to his death when in police custody.

The topic of embattled police departments across the country was on the tip of officials' tongues Friday as 34 former military police -- a majority of whom served at Guantanamo Bay -- graduated from the National Guard Military Police Academy provided through the Worcester Police Department. The group completed the first-ever accelerated training program designed for ex-military.

Lt. Michael Clark, class leader for the program, told graduates in his remarks that police are in a time of "negative'' media coverage.

He said these officers are determined to change the view some have of police.

"With the current focus of the media to portray law enforcement in a negative light, the graduates in front of you have been trained by Worcester's finest and invite the scrutiny,'' he said.

"We face the burden, like many others, to change the public's outlook of law enforcement and to prove that our desire to serve will surpass any negative propaganda.''

Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett and Daniel Zivkovich, executive director of the Municipal Police Training Committee, offered their congratulations to the men at the Friday morning ceremony in Worcester Technical High School.

Mr. Bennett alluded to the...