Pawtucket Times - Officers promoted, new recruits sworn-in

Pawtucket Police Major Bruce Moreau, right, salutes Mayor James Doyle, center, after Doyle swears him in during the Pawtucket Police swearing in and promotion ceremony at the Jenks Junior High School auditorium Wednesday afternoon. Chief George Kelley III, at left, applauds. Times photo/Butch Adams

PAWTUCKET — At a ceremony held on the eve of Thanksgiving, Mayor James E. Doyle and Pawtucket Police Chief George L. Kelley III both said they were thankful for the high caliber of men and women who make up the Pawtucket Police Department.

Twelve police officers also have a special reason to celebrate, as five were promoted and seven were sworn in before a large gathering of local officials, family and friends at the Jenks Junior High School auditorium.
Father Cornelius Lynch, a chaplain at the Adult Correctional Institutions and uncle of Pawtucket City Solicitor Margaret Lynch-Gadaleta, offered a blessing for the law enforcement officers. He joked that while he is usually “calling down God upon the ‘bad guys,’” he was pleased to be able to call God down upon “the good guys,” such as those whose job it is to protect and maintain peace for the city’s residents.
According to Harvey Goulet, director of administration, the money for the seven new recruits and the promotions is already accounted for in the current budget. He said the recruits, all of whom had graduated earlier that afternoon from the state police academy, were hired to fill vacancies that have occurred, primarily due to retirements.
The five promotions of veteran officers came about due to the retirement of longtime police Major John J. Whiting, who was sworn in last week as the new North Providence Police Chief.
Capt. Bruce Moreau, a 23-year veteran of the department, was promoted to major. Doyle noted that the 47-year-old’s father, Raymond, served as a Pawtucket Police officer for 39 years.
Moreau holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Roger Williams University as well as an associate’s degree from Los Angeles Community College. He also served in the U.S. Sir Force as a military police officer.
Moreau has been the police department’s Planning and Training Coordinator for the past seven years and has been team commander of the Special Response Team since 2001. Among his many achievements, he has won numerous department awards, including a merit award for the apprehension of two suspects in the murder of a woman found bludgeoned to death in a city cemetery.
Another officer promoted was Lt. Kevin Whalen, who was elevated to the rank of captain. The 41-year-old holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and is a graduate of the Rhode Island Criminalistics School.
Also promoted was Detective Sgt. Cory L. Jackson, who moved to the rank of lieutenant. The 39-year-old Jackson, a military veteran of Operation Desert Storm, holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University. While on the department, he has also earned six commendations and a medal of merit.
Another veteran officer, Sgt. Thomas Newman, was promoted to detective sergeant. The 44-year-old holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University.
Detective Kevin Shea, 40, was elevated to the rank of sergeant. He received a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and has earned six commendations for police work.
Among those sworn-in as new recruits were Christopher J. Polinik, 30, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University and an associate’s degree from the Community College of Rhode Island; Alexander R. Smith, 28, who has an associate’s degree from Community College of Rhode Island and is a graduate of the Rhode Island Capitol Police and Rhode Island Sheriff Academies; and John Donley, 23, a former Swansea Police officer who holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University.
Also welcomed to the department were Kraig Nelson, 39, who served in the Rhode Island Air National Guard and holds an associate’s degree from the Community College of Rhode Island; and Geoffrey Dean Metfooney, 30, who has been deployed as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hurricane Katrina and Iraq and who is currently attending Rhode Island College.
Additionally sworn in were Rui Jorge Silva, 31, who earned an associate’s degree from Community College of Rhode Island and is presently enrolled at Rhode Island College; and Paul M. Trout, 25, who received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.