Faced with a dramatic decline in the number of people seeking to become police officers, Worcester widens its search for recruits by allowing candidates as old as 39 to enter the hiring process.
Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation raising the maximum eligibility age for prospective Worcester police officers from 32 to 39, following approval by the city council and a push by the city’s legislative delegation on Beacon Hill.
The change comes as Worcester has seen its pool of potential police recruits shrink from between 1,200 and 1,500 candidates a year in the past to roughly 200 to 250 more recently, according to an announcement from state Sen. Michael Moore’s office.
City officials hope expanding the age range will bring more candidates into the hiring process at a time when the department is contending with vacancies caused by retirements and officers unavailable because of long-term disability or military deployment.
“The passing of this bill will have a profound impact on the Worcester Police Department’s ability to recruit more officers,” City Manager Eric D. Batista said in the Worcester Police Department’s announcement. “With officers retiring, officers on long-term disability, and officers deployed in the military, this recruiting age increase will help us fill these vacancies and ensure we’re able to provide the level of public safety service our residents deserve.”
Before the change, candidates older than 32 on the date of the police entrance examination could not be certified for appointment as Worcester police officers. The new law raises that cutoff to candidates older than 39.
Military veterans continue to receive an additional three years of eligibility under the new law, as they did under the previous age limit.
The legislation brings Worcester closer in line with age limits in several other Massachusetts communities, including Boston, Plymouth and Taunton, according to Moore’s office.
The effort began at the local level nearly two years ago. The Worcester City Council unanimously approved the home rule petition in November 2024, and it was filed with the Legislature in March 2025.
State Rep. James O’Day, D-Worcester, sponsored the legislation in the House, where it passed in May. Moore, D-Millbury, led the measure in the Senate, which approved it in June.
“I was proud to work with the City of Worcester and Representative O’Day to get this home rule petition across the finish line,” Moore said in the announcement from his office. “This minor change to the Worcester Police’s age of eligibility guidelines will expand the pool of qualified individuals to recruit from without sacrificing the safety or security of Worcester’s neighborhoods.”
Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said in the Police Department’s announcement that the higher age limit could help attract candidates with a wider range of experience.
“This change gives us the opportunity to recruit highly qualified officers who bring broader life experience, maturity, and diverse professional backgrounds to our department,” Saucier said.
Mayor Joe Petty also pointed to the potential for a broader applicant pool.
“By expanding the eligibility age, we will welcome a broader pool of dedicated recruits who bring valuable life and professional experience to the Worcester Police Department,” Petty said in the announcement.
With Healey’s signature, the legislation is now law.
