SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

ATTLEBORO - Three new police officers have graduated from the police academy, including one who was at the top of a class of 50 recruits from all over the state.

The Attleboro graduates of the 21st municipal police training academy in Quincy are Neil T. Bailey, Yuriy P. Bukhenik and Scott A. Gemelli.

Bukhenik was named the honor graduate for maintaining the highest cumulative average in all aspects of instruction. He also served as the platoon leader for his class.

All three Attleboro police recruits had been hired from the state's Civil Service list as reserve police officers on Feb. 18. Before attending the police academy, the new officers participated in an intense in-house training program that included instruction from members of the Attleboro Police Department.

Attleboro Police Chief Richard Pierce attended the graduation ceremony last week at the Great Hall at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

"All three Attleboro patrolmen did exceptionally well while attending the police academy and I am proud of their performance.

They skillfully and proficiently negotiated the intense academic and physical demands of the training," Pierce said.

He said they are a much needed addition to the police department.

The department is comprised of 82 police officers. Seventeen are ranking officers and 65 are patrol officers.