WESTBORO, MASS. (WHDH) – A Westboro police officer became the first officer to ever be crowned Miss Massachusetts over the weekend.

Ashlyn Mercier, who is from Worcester, highlighted her community service initative “Nick’s Courage: One Smile Goes A Mile.” It’s named after her younger brother Nick, who is a two-time pediatric cancer survivor.

“I created this initiative really just to give back to the community, and to provide hope for children who are battling critcal illnesses,” Mercier said.

Mercier said her fellow officers at the Westboro Police Department have been nothing but supportive of her win. She said she’s proud to represent police officers on a national stage.

“The department has been so supportive, and it’s just really filled my heart with so much pride, and and so much joy on the Miss America stage, and also to represent law enforcement officers across the country,” she said. “I’m super thrilled and just honored to represent Miss Massachusetts 2026.”

She said pageantry and policing skills have crossover.

“The ability to perform on the spot as you are in pageantry, and in my job, responding to calls that require me to act quickly and respond with a calm, cool level-minded head,
these are all things I do in my role as Miss Massaschusetts, and my role as Officer Mercier,” she said.

Mercier is also set to compete in the Miss America pageant in September.

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• The Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole for Jose Colon, who was convicted of killing State Trooper George Hanna in 1983.
• Colon became eligible for parole after a 2024 court ruling regarding offenders who were under 21 at the time of their crimes.
• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey expressed support for the board’s decision to deny parole.

The Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole for a man who was convicted in the slaying of Massachusetts State Trooper George Hanna in 1983, saying he has failed to take full responsibility for his actions.

Jose Colon, now 64, killed Hanna, of Holliston and originally of Natick, on Feb. 26, 1983, outside an Auburn liquor store.

In its ruling, the Parole Board cited several reasons in its decision to deny parole. Those included that Colon testified during his parole hearing that he had been sober for 30 years, contradicting evidence of drug use during that time while in prison. It also cited the fact that he denied committing an armed robbery two days prior to killing Hanna, despite pleading guilty to the crime.

The Board also wrote that Colon hasn’t taken full responsibility for killing Hanna.

“Although he accepts responsibility, Mr. Colon maintains that he closed his eyes and fired his gun six times, hitting Trooper Hanna all six times,” the Board wrote. “He insists he had no intention of harming or killing Trooper Hanna. (However) Mr. Colon did appear to be remorseful that his actions led to the death of Trooper Hanna.”

‘What I did was wrong’: Opponents say state trooper’s killer should not get parole

Although Colon was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a Supreme Judicial Court decision in 2024 ruled that those younger than 21 at the time a crime is committed can’t be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Colon was 20 when he killed Hanna.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early applauded the Parole Board’s decision.

“We are pleased with the Parole Board’s decision and grateful that it carefully considered the seriousness of this crime and its lasting impact on the Hanna family and our community,” Early said in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with the Hanna family, whose strength and perseverance throughout this process have been remarkable.”

State trooper intervened on armed robbery attempt

Hanna was killed on Feb. 26, 1983. According to published reports, that night Hanna pulled over a red Chevy Vega in the parking lot of J&S Liquors on Southbridge Street in Auburn. He did not know that the three men in the car were there to rob the store. All three were armed with handguns.

Hanna frisked one of the men and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Colon shot Hanna six times. Hanna was shot a total of seven times.

Colon, Emilio Otero and Miguel Rosado, were all convicted of first-degree murder. Colon was the only one younger than 20 at the time, so the SJC ruling only affected him.

In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey celebrated the Parole Board’s decision.

“I strongly opposed Jose Colon’s parole and am grateful that the Parole Board denied his request,” she said in a statement released by her office on Monday, June 22. “More than four decades after Trooper George Hanna was brutally murdered while serving and protecting the people of Massachusetts, his loss continues to be felt by his family, fellow law enforcement officers and communities across our state. Today’s decision recognizes the magnitude of that loss and provides some measure of relief to those who have fought to ensure his memory is never forgotten.”

Hanna grew up in Natick, the son of longtime Natick Police Officer George Hanna Sr., and became a state trooper in 1974. He was married and had three children, and was living in Holliston at the time of his death.

A series of awards in his name, The Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery, are the highest the state presents to police officers who exhibit exceptional bravery while in the line of duty.

Colon admitted to wrongdoing at parole hearing

During his parole hearing on Jan. 15, Colon admitted what he did was wrong.

“What I did was wrong and inexcusable,” he said during the five-hour hearing in Natick. “I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. I have asked God for forgiveness. I hope that one day the Hanna family will forgive me for the suffering I’ve brought into their life.”

The Board wrote in its decision that it realized Colon was not eligible to participate in several programs that most people seeking parole could because he was serving a life sentence with no chance at parole, until the court’s ruling.

However, the board also wrote that it felt Colon needs to seek treatment regarding his history of trauma and other issues that were contributing factors to the shooting.

“The Board recommends that Mr. Colon address the concerns of the Board, specifically related to accountability and treatment needs,” according to the decision. “The Board concludes Jose Colon has not demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society.”

Colon is eligible to seek parole again in 2029.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at Facebook.com/NormanMillerJournalist.

Federal prosecutors said Henriques victimized numerous girls and young women online between the ages of 12 and 18. According to court records, Henriques met or spoke with at least eight admitted or prospective students before later contacting them using information obtained through the college’s admissions system.

The case centered on a 17-year-old prospective student whom Henriques met during a campus tour. Prosecutors said Henriques reviewed the student’s tour registration form, which included her date of birth, and learned she was still in high school. Within hours of the tour, Henriques began texting the student using the phone number she had provided on her admissions form.