BOSTON — The Massachusetts State Police have a new colonel, as Geoffrey Noble was sworn in on Friday at the state House.

Now-Col. Geoffrey Noble was a summer officer in Nantucket as a young man. Now, after rising through the ranks of the New Jersey State Police, he has moved his family north to be the head of the Massachusetts State Police. 

“Trust between our department and the community must be strong and unwavering,” said Noble. “That accountability and that trust starts with me.”

The department is under scrutiny for several incidents in recent years: a fraudulent overtime scandal, alleged misconduct during the Karen Read murder investigation and most recently the death of police cadet Enrique Delgado Garcia while in training. 

He says the first thing he needs to do is find out what is good and what is bad inside State Police.  

“I must first earn your trust, and I'm committed and have the resolve to do whatever that took, to do whatever it takes to earn and maintain that trust,” he said. 

Gov. Maura Healey (D-Massachusetts), who has faced questions regarding the State Police’s conduct in recent years, believes Noble is the right choice for the job.

“This is an opportunity for us to make sure that we are supporting what is working, and that leadership is empowered to further support what is working and to look hard with a fresh set of eyes at challenges before us,” said Healey. “I know that Col. Noble brings that perspective and that attitude to this new appointment.”

Noble says he will get to work immediately and already has a packed schedule.