Every time I step into the station, I am reminded why I’m choosing this path. Watching how the officers interact with the campus and people in the community, I want to act like them, to model them when I am in law enforcement.
Caroline Levy, ’26, is continuing her family’s legacy of service. The Bridgewater State University junior was recently appointed to serve as student police cadet within the university’s police department.
Her father, Thomas Levy, worked for the Bridgewater Fire Department for 36 years, ascending to chief in 2016, before retiring in 2020. But it was her mother, Lorraine Levy, a retired Massachusetts State Trooper, who encouraged her to think about a career in law enforcement. Initially, Caroline was resistant.
“At first I didn’t think I wanted to pursue it, I was going to go into nursing,” she said.
That all changed when the Raynham native was still in high school, and an opportunity arose to take a college-level criminal justice course. Her mother suggested she enroll.
“So I did, and it changed everything. It gave me a new perspective, and I thought, ‘I want to give this a try,’” she said.
Now confident in her decision, she knew exactly where she wanted to go to continue her education post high school.
“My sister went to Bridgewater and studied CJ. She raved about it…As I got older and realized how much BSU had to offer, that it was close to home and affordable, it made my decision easy,” Caroline said.
Her sister, Katherine Mathi liked Bridgewater so much, she returned to her alma mater where she currently teaches criminal justice classes.
“I’ve never gotten her as a professor, but that would be fun,” Caroline said.
While her mother encouraged her to pursue law enforcement and helped lead her sister to go to Bridgewater State, it was Caroline’s father who planted the seeds of being a student cadet.
“He came with me to admitted students’ day and (because he knew so many people as the former fire chief) was able to help me get out of my comfort zone,” Caroline said.
Together they happened upon the BSUPD table and met Captain Ryan Tepper and his K9 partner Zach. The meeting made an impression, and Tepper encouraged Caroline to reach out. Which is what she did this year when she saw the opportunity to apply for the student cadet position.
After going through the application and interview process, she was selected and officially appointed in February. Since then, she’s been learning all that the BSUPD does, from shadowing police officers and working dispatch, to attending court hearings and patrolling community events.
“Being exposed to all the different aspects has been really helpful. Since I’ve started it’s reminded me why I want to be a police officer, that this is what I want to do,” Caroline said.
Later this month, she will continue to gain applicable experience toward her goal when she travels to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, to attend Officer Candidate School.
When she arrives back on campus this fall, she will continue her student cadet duties with the BSUPD through her anticipated 2026 graduation date.
Once that BSU degree is in hand, she will have options, whether that’s to serve in the Marines as military police, or in law enforcement at the state or local level.
“Honestly though, I’d love to come back to Bridgewater and work for the BSUPD, the people that work there are genuinely amazing,” Caroline said. “Every time I step into the station, I am reminded why I’m choosing this path. Watching how the officers interact with the campus and people in the community, I want to act like them, to model them when I am in law enforcement.”
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