EAST PROVIDENCE — A bagpiper led the way as the newly promoted East Providence Police officers entered the East Providence High School auditorium.
The crowd was packed with family and friends, retired and current fellow officers.
All 19 officers — a permanent Chief, a Deputy Chief, three Captains, four Lieutenants, six Sergeants and four Detectives — stood on stage Tuesday night. They each took an oath and stood at attention as loved ones pinned their badges on their uniforms.
On Jan. 27, the East Providence Police Department held a long overdue Promotional Ceremony. Many of the officers have been serving in their new roles for some time, and the ceremony provided an opportunity to formally recognize their leadership and service.
“They say a police department reflects the community it serves,” said Chief Michael J. Rapoza, who following Tuesday’s ceremony can finally drop the “Acting” before his title. “Tonight, as I look around this room filled with dedicated officers from this agency and beyond proud families, city leaders and those who built this department before us, I am reminded just how strong the City of East Providence truly is. Thank you all for being here tonight to share in this important moment for the East Providence Police Department. I am truly honored and humbled to stand before you as the new Chief of Police.”
Chief Rapoza thanked East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva “for his confidence, trust, and support.”
“Mayor DaSilva, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community in this role and I look forward to continuing to work together in the best interests of the City of East Providence,” said Chief Rapoza. “Tonight is about leadership, commitment, and the future of this department. I want to congratulate all of the officers being promoted this evening. Promotion to a supervisory rank is not just a recognition of past performance — it is a commitment to lead, to mentor, and to set the standard for those who will follow. You are our future leaders, and the expectations are high because the potential is even higher.”
"Today we prepare to swear in some incredibly talented people, and these are the people who will continue to be leading this department decades into the future," said Mayor DaSilva. "We've got a young group of people here who are being promoted to Detective, we've got people who are being promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Chief and Deputy Chief. We are blessed that we were able to promote from within. It was not a difficult choice, when the opening became available, to find Chief Rapoza and Deputy Chief Benoit."
PROMOTIONS
Chief of Police — Michael J. Rapoza
Deputy Chief — Andy Benoit
Captains — Brian Mulvey, David Pacheco, Maari Beltrami Stainer
Lieutenants — Kelvin Cabrera, Conor Debold, Roland Estrada, Stephen Rodrigues
Sergeants — Christopher Cooney, Quint Dow, Ryan Feeney, Jay Rainville, Kurt Ripke, Michael Sullivan
Detectives — Kristopher Correia, Ryan Havunen, Jason Nogler, Stephen Ohsberg
