VASSALBORO – Nine new state troopers received their badges during a swearing-in ceremony at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on Friday.

Gov. John Baldacci was the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which completed a nine-week training program for the graduates on Maine State Police policies and procedures.

“Our law enforcement community is second-to-none,” Baldacci said. “As new troopers, you will continue to build on that reputation, and through your strong work ethic and commitment to uphold the law of this land, you will become role models for our youth and for all citizens of Maine.”

Assigned as new troopers to Troop B, which covers Androscoggin and Oxford counties were:

• Paul Casey, 26, of Rumford joins the State Police following four years with the Rumford Police Department. Casey is a 2001 graduate of Mountain Valley High School in Rumford he will patrol in Oxford County.

• Thomas Pappas Jr., 26, of Bowdoin has been a patrolman with the Portland Police Department and a corrections officer at the Cumberland County Jail. He is a 1999 graduate of Narraguagus High School in Cherryfield. He will patrol in Androscoggin County.

Jason Wing, 22, of Auburn served four years with the Marines. He is a 2003 graduate of Lewiston High School and will patrol in Oxford County.

Also assigned Friday were:

Troop A, York County:

Benjamin Smith, 25, of South Berwick has been a patrolman with the Durham, N.H., Police Department. He is a 2000 graduate of Marshwood High School in South Berwick and served four years with the Marines.

Matthew Williams, 28, of Portland is an eight-year veteran of the Air Force. He is a graduate of Presque Isle High School.

Both Smith and Williams have an associate degree in criminal justice, and both will patrol in York County.

Troop C, Kennebec and Somerset counties:

Jon Brown, 33, of St. Albans has been a patrolman with the Dexter Police Department and a corrections officer with the Maine Department of Corrections. Brown is a 1993 graduate of Nokomis Regional High School in Newport and will patrol in Somerset County.

Breanne Petrini, 25, of Winthrop has served with the Winthrop Police Department as a patrol officer and as a deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department. She is a 2001 graduate of Winthrop High School and a 2007 graduate of Thomas College. Petrini is a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. She will patrol in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Troop D, Waldo County:

Thomas Welch, 29, of Lincolnville has been a deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. He served four years with the Marines and is a 1997 graduate of Camden-Rockport High School. Welch will patrol in Waldo County.

Troop J, Hancock and Washington counties:

Christopher Smith, 28, of Hancock has been a patrol officer with the Mount Desert Police Department. He is a 1998 graduate of Machias High School and a 2003 graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Smith will patrol in Hancock and Washington counties.