The Fitchburg State University Police Department is proud to announce the formal promotion of Andrew Lamarche to the rank of Deputy Chief. Following his official appointment on July 12, Deputy Chief Lamarche was sworn into his new role during a ceremony held at Hammond Hall’s Main Lounge.
“Andrew Lamarche has spent nearly 15 years earning the trust of this university through steady leadership, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to our students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. “One of the things I value most about his journey is that it reflects what we hope every member of our community experiences here: the opportunity to grow, to lead, and to make a meaningful difference over time. It is a pleasure to congratulate Andrew on this well-deserved promotion, and I look forward to working with him as he helps lead our University Police Department into its next chapter.”
Reporting directly to Police Chief Michael Cloutier, Deputy Chief Lamarche now serves as second-in-command for the department. In this leadership role, Lamarche has assumed responsibility for managing daily department operations while continuing his oversight of patrol operations.
“It’s been a privilege to play a small part in Andrew's journey and watch him grow,” said Chief Cloutier. “Seeing how he has developed from his first days at the State Police Academy into the leader standing before you today has been a truly remarkable experience. Andrew earned this promotion through years of self-reflection, hard work and dedication. Everyone who has been part of his journey should be incredibly proud of his success.”
During the ceremony, Deputy Chief Lamarche was officially pinned by his wife, Cynthia, and children Lily and Tyler.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Lamarche, adding that the pinning is an experience he will never forget. “They have been around me for missed holidays, they’ve been around me for long shifts, phone calls home even when I didn’t know when I’m coming home, text messages that say ‘I’m OK, but I can’t talk and whatever you see in the news, I’m OK.’ It’s been difficult for them. To have them here and to share this moment with me, it’s indescribable.”
Cynthia Lamarche said the day highlights how deeply so many appreciate what her husband does on a daily basis at Fitchburg State.
“It shows all the years he’s been putting in here and all the hard work he’s put into it, dedication to the job and all the time he’s spent here has meant something,” said Cynthia Lamarche, who has been married to Deputy Chief Lamarche for 19 years. “I know his job here means almost as much as the family does to him. This is his second family, so it means a lot to me to see all the people that support him in how far he’s come.”
Lamarche’s son, Tyler, said he’s proud of his dad, while Lily talked about how her father has the innate ability to overcome adversity.
“He’s gone through really tough times, but he always pushes through and ends up making the best of everything, even if he’s had to do a bunch of hard things,” said Lily.
Of course, Deputy Chief Lamarche is fueled daily by his tremendous support system at home.
“My kids are coming up on college age and they will be going to school soon, and working here helps me, in my mind, do something good for them and do something good for the students that come here who are trying to get educated and seek better things for their lives,” said Lamarche. “If I had a small part in making this a safer place for them and making this a better place to work for my colleagues, then it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Deputy Chief Lamarche has served the Fitchburg State University community for nearly two decades. He began his career with the department as a Police Officer in 2007, later moving into leadership roles as an Operations Sergeant from 2015 to 2021, and most recently serving as Operations Lieutenant since November 2021. His well-rounded law enforcement career also includes valuable experience with both the Amherst College and Bolton Police Departments.
In addition to his extensive practical experience, Lamarche is highly credentialed. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Worcester State University and is currently completing his Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Fitchburg State University. His specialized certifications include MPTC Firearms Instructor, Taser/ECW Instructor, Sexual Assault Investigator, and Internal Affairs Investigations.
University leadership, department personnel, faculty, staff and community members gathered at Hammond Hall's Main Lounge to celebrate the milestone and offer their full support to the new Deputy Chief as he begins this next chapter of service.