PITTSFIELD — Patrick Cumba, 22, of South Portland will begin his duties as a Pittsfield Police Officer on Jan. 18.

Cumba was selected from a field of 54 applicants, according to Police Chief Bill Lawrence, who made the announcement Friday.

Cumba has served as a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department for three years. He holds an associate degree in law enforcement from Southern Maine Technical College and is currently a full-time business administration student at the University of Southern Maine. Being one semester short of completing his bachelor’s degree, he plans to complete his studies part time after moving to Pittsfield. He is married and will be moving to Pittsfield in the near future.

The diversity of law enforcement is what attracted Cumba to the field, and a newspaper ad prompted him to apply for the Pittsfield position. When he researched the Pittsfield area, he said, “I heard nothing but good things.”

According to Lawrence, 34 of the 54 applicants had completed the 100-hour Law Enforcement Academy course for part-time officers. Those candidates were invited to take a physical fitness examination which 10 completed. Cumba placed first. Of those 10 applicants, six completed the oral review board interview, and Cumba also placed first.

With the completion of the standard background check, Lawrence said, “No one could say anything bad about him.

“We liked the idea that he has the associate degree and (is) working on his bachelors. And he had a strong showing in the alert test given by the academy. We’re hoping after his six-month probation he’ll be able to take the basic training at the academy in the fall.”