Acton Police Welcome New Officer Erik Donaldson

The Acton Police Department announced the addition of a new officer, Erik Donaldson, who graduated from the Municipal Police Training Committee's Marlborough Police Academy on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Donaldson was sworn in by Town Clerk Leo Mercado on Friday, Oct. 23, and has begun a 10-week Field Training Course under the supervision of an experienced officer.

Donaldson is an East Longmeadow native who graduated from East Longmeadow High School in 2022. He attended UMass Boston, where he studied criminal justice with a minor in international relations, maintaining a 3.5 GPA and earning Dean's List honors for five semesters. He was also recognized for his academic achievements as a student-athlete.

Before joining the Acton Police Department, Donaldson served as a student police cadet with the UMass Boston Police Department, conducting campus patrols and assisting officers with daily operations. He also completed an internship with the Watertown Police Department and worked as a seasonal correctional officer with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department for three summers.

Outside law enforcement, Donaldson played basketball, serving as captain of his high school varsity team before playing for the UMass Boston men's basketball team, where he earned Little East Conference academic honors.

"Officer Donaldson has shown the discipline needed to excel in academics and collegiate athletics, a trait that will serve him well in policing. We are proud to welcome him to the Acton Police Department," Chief Douglas Sturniolo said in a statement.

Source: Town of Acton announcement, October 28, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.