Worcester residents who thought their shot at joining the police force had expired at 32 just got a second chance. Gov. Maura Healey has signed a home rule petition that lifts the maximum age for an original appointment as a Worcester police officer from 32 to 39. The new law makes anyone who takes the department's entrance exam before their 40th birthday eligible for certification, while keeping an extra three year accommodation in place for candidates with military service.
According to a City of Worcester press release, the measure, filed as House bill H.3929, was unanimously approved by the Worcester City Council in November 2024 and then shepherded through Beacon Hill by Senator Michael O. Moore and Representative James J. O'Day. City Manager Eric D. Batista said the change would "have a profound impact on the Worcester Police Department's ability to recruit more officers" at a time when retirements, long term disability and military deployments have been stretching staffing thin.
How the bill moved through Beacon Hill
H.3929 was carried as a joint petition by Rep. James J. O'Day and Sen. Michael O. Moore and cleared the Legislature in late June. The House enacted the bill on June 22 and the Senate followed on June 23, and the Legislature's online docket shows the governor signed the act on June 30, 2026, according to the Massachusetts Legislature. On the Legislature's site, the measure is recorded as Chapter 118 of the Acts of 2026.
Local leaders welcome a broader applicant pool
Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the expanded age window will "welcome a broader pool of dedicated recruits who bring valuable life and professional experience," framing the change as a way to tap into candidates who may have taken a less traditional path to policing. Police Chief Paul Saucier echoed that sentiment, saying the higher cap "gives us the opportunity to recruit highly qualified officers," according to the City of Worcester. City officials publicly thanked Sen. Moore and Rep. O'Day for pushing the petition through and cast the age hike as a practical tool to address current staffing shortfalls.
What it means for applicants and recruiting
Under the prior rule, anyone older than 32 on the date of the entrance exam was automatically out of the running. The new law moves that cutoff to older than 39 and keeps the three year military exception intact, according to the Massachusetts Legislature. The change follows similar moves in other Massachusetts cities and, according to the office of Sen. Moore as reported by This Week in Worcester, is aimed squarely at reversing a marked drop in applicants over the past several years.
Next steps for recruitment
City officials say the broader eligibility will be front and center in upcoming recruitment outreach, as the department works to fill vacancies created by retirements and long term disability. Local coverage has noted that the move was broadly welcomed by municipal leaders, with reporting by Patch summarizing both the new law and the city's response.
