Zachary Wood Sworn In As City Police Officer

By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Friday, December 01, 2006

North Adams Mayor John Barrett III delivered a police officer oath to city police Officer Zachary Wood during a Nov. 30 swearing-in ceremony.

North Adams - Zachary R. Wood, 25, was sworn in as a permanent full-time police officer on Nov. 30 by Mayor John Barrett III during a ceremony at City Hall.

"This is outstanding," said Wood just before the ceremony began. "I've been waiting a long time."

Wood attended a state-based police training academy with cxity police Officers Mark Bailey and Eric Thomas, who were sworn in as permanent officers in December 2005. Wood was unable to appear at that ceremony; he was in Iraq as part of the U.S. Army National Guard 181st Engineering Battalion unit that worked to close the Abu Ghraib prison. Wood returned to the United States on Oct. 24 after spending just over a year in Iraq..

Wood's father Richard Wood has worked for the city Parks Department for 39 years. Wood's 29-year-old brother Jason has served as a city police officer since 2002.

"We brought them up to treat everyone the same, to help when possible, to protect and serve," said Richard Wood of Jason and Zachary Wood.

"We're very proud of them," said Debra Wood, Jason and Zachary's mother.

City Commissioner of Public Safety E. John Morocco and police department Director Michael Cozzaglio attended the 11 a.m. ceremony.