NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Patricia Tidd has become the first female police officer to graduate from the Connecticut State Police motorcycle training course.

She said her celebration follows 120 long hours of bumps, bruises and plenty of Advil.

“It’s intense,” said the New London officer. “It's very structured, very disciplined."

The free program is sponsored by the state police, she said. It's offered to every municipality in Connecticut, she said, but not everyone can meet the challenge.

“It’s physically demanding, but also mentally demanding,” said New London Officer Max Bertsch.

"They leave here many days with bumps, bruises, scrapes, but they learn here at the training academy how to be safe and how to provide services to the people in Connecticut,” said state police Lt. Paul Vance.

Tidd is one of those officers who survived the training. Now, she said, she'll be patrolling the streets of New London on a motorcycle.

The benefits reach beyond personal satisfaction, said Vance. Local police departments also have a lot to gain, he said.

“Certainly, in this day and age, with the cost of fuel, it certainly is very efficient to operate a two-wheel vehicle on patrol," he said.