Fall River Police Department Swearing In Ceremony 2 3 26

My name is Lieutenant Joseph Galvo. I am proudly serve as the hiring coordinator for the Fall River Police Department. I would like to thank you all for joining us this afternoon. At this time, I would like to invite our police chaplain, Rather Father Rob Nemkovich of the Blessed Trinity Parish to to the podium for the invocation.

Please bow your heads in prayer. Let us pray.

Lord God, we pray for your divine protection over our new police officers as they face many risks and dangers and they will in the future. We read in Psalm 91, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Surround them with your angels to guard their paths and shield them from harm. Let your presence be their ultimate defense and refuge. We also pray for their families who will

bear the burden of worry and sacrifice.

May they find comfort in your promise of protection and trust in your sovereign care over their loved ones. In Matthew's gospel, our Lord says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Lord, we thank you for all of our police officers as they serve as peacemakers in our communities. Bless their efforts to bring safety and security to all. Empower them to

navigate conflicts with wisdom and fairness. Let their work reflect your peace and justice in a broken world.

Remind them of the eternal significance of their calling and grant them the strength to persevere as representatives of your light and love.

As they work to protect and serve others, let them feel the reassurance of your righteous hand and sustain them through every challenge they face. St.

Michael the Archangel, watch over, protect, and intercede for them. This we ask in your holy name. Amen.

It is a true honor and to address you all today as we welcome the newest officers to the forer police department.

This ceremony marks an important milestone not only for the individuals who have worked tirelessly to earn their badges but also for our community which will benefit from their commitment and service. I would like to extend my appreciation to the mayor's office and to Mayor Paul Kugan for allowing us to hold this oath ceremony here on the sixth floor of the government center where generations of officers have

stood, raised their right hands, and taken part in this longstanding tradition.

My thanks also goes to Chief Kelly and the police department command staff.

Their leadership, guidance, and support have played an essential role in the success of every officer joining us today.

A special thank you to Sergeant Frank Andred, whose hard work and dedication have been invaluable to the hiring process. He has been a driving force behind selecting these new officers and more who are currently moving through the pipeline.

I also want to acknowledge the officers, supervisors, and detectives who assisted along the way conducting background investigations, participating in ride-alongs, helping with fitness assessments, and supporting every step in the hiring process.

Their efforts have been vital, and we are grateful for their commitment. To our new officers, congratulations. You have chosen a profession that is both demanding and deeply meaningful. One that calls for integrity, bravery, and a steadfast dedication to what is right.

Your path to this moment has required rigorous preparation, personal sacrifice, and an unwavering drive to serve others. Today, you join a proud legacy of law enforcement in Fall River.

and we thank you for accepting this responsibility.

As you begin your careers, I encourage you to embrace the core values of our department. Service, pride, and commitment.

Service means fulfilling the needs of the community and protecting every individual regardless of race, culture, religion, or background.

Pride reflects the honor, courage, and integrity which you will perform your duties. When you carry yourselves with pride, our community in turn will take pride in its police department.

Community reminds us that policing is a partnership.

You are not only enforcers of the law, but you are also collaborators who work with the public to build trust, strengthen neighborhoods, and promote safety.

Your role is diverse. You will respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, and help maintain public order. But beyond those responsibilities, you will also act as mentors, listeners, and role models.

The positive impact you have on the people you encounter will be one of the most meaning meaningful aspects of your service.

To the families and loved ones who are here today, thank you. Your support has been essential. Your sacrifices you have made, the concerns you have carried, and the pride you feel today are all part of this journey. We appreciate everything you have done to support these officers.

as they reach this milestone.

To the experienced officers and leaders in our department, I ask you to continue to guide and mentor our newest members, share what you have learned, help them grow, and support them as they face the challenges ahead. Together, we will maintain a department defined by strength, professionalism, and the highest standards of service.

In closing, I once again offer my sincere congratulations to our new officers.

You have earned your place here through dedication and hard work. As you take your oaths, remember that you are accepting the trust of the entire community. A community that wants you to succeed and bring a positive impact in your daily service and interactions with the public. Welcome to the city of Fall River. May you serve honorably, protect with courage, and lead with integrity.

Thank you.

At this time, I would like to invite Mayor Paul Kugan to the podium to administer the oath of office to our new officers.

Get it for you. You're not saying it.

I have it right here.

Again, this is a very special day in the city of For River where we're adding in some very important public servants who have a very important role to play and uh we wish them nothing but the best. We want to congratulate them, the Far Police Department and their families for coming out today. It's a very special day and it means a lot to all of us. Uh, also joining me here today is our city

council president Cliff Pont and two of our other city councilors um, Cliff Peekom and Michael Canuel who also I mean Cliff Peekham Chris Peekham, I'm sorry, I'm just talking to him. Uh, Chris Peekham and Michael Canuel who also come and show their support for this very important day to bring new guys into the force and girls. Sorry.

All right, so you're going to do this with me.

Um, raise your right hand.

I state your name. do solemnly swear I Kyle Vaselnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitutions and will support the Constitutions and the laws thereof and the laws thereof.

So help me God. So God, I state your name do solemnly swear I Kyle swear that I will faithfully that I will faithfully and impartially discharge discharge discharge and perform all the duties and perform all the duties incumbent on me incumbent on me as a police officer as a police officer of the city of Fall River of the city of Fall I state your name hereby accept the office of police officer. I

accepted officer police officer on the police force of the city of Fall River on the police force of the city of Fall River and agree to obey and agree to obey and be bound and be bound by such rules and regulations by such rules and regulations as are or may be as are or may be from time to time from time to time laid down for the government laid down for the government

of the Far Police Department.

of the Far Police Department.

Congratulations everybody.

Congratulations. Congratulations, guys.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Congratulations, guys. Congratulations.

Congratulations. Stay safe.

Congratulations. Make sure we get the same date. Congratulations. All right.

Congrats. Congratulations.

Congratulations.

At this time, I'll be calling each individual officer up to sign the oath book. Starting with Officer Daniel Reese Jr., Born and raised in south end of Fall River, he graduated from Diamond Vocational High School and Officer Ree proved himself as a dependable class liaison officer with the Fall River Police Department.

[snorts]

Officer Julian Brun, born and raised in the south end of Fall River. He attended the FRPD Teen Police Academy in 2021 and graduated Dery High School in 2022.

[snorts] Officer Elias Maites was born in Boston and comes from a family of Greek nationality. He attended high school in Greece and returned back to Massachusetts where he attended BCC and obtained his associates degree.

Officer Maites moved to the Far area in 2015.

Officer Teresa Varela.

Officer Varela was born in Cape Ver. She attained her citizenship through her mother's n naturalization.

Originally from the Taton area, she graduated from Taton High School and was a member of the JOTC program. Officer Varela eventually moved to Fall River in 2023.

Officer Jorgen Diccastro.

Officer Diccastro was born in Cape Ver and is currently in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen. He worked in the former Republic school system as a security officer. Officer Teiccastro was designated platoon leader at the Grand Police Academy. He brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise.

Officer Cynthia Moreno. Officer Moreno was born in Cape Verde and became a naturalized citizen in 2021. She attained language interpreter certifications in two languages, Portuguese and Creole, from Massoya Community College. Officer Moreno settled in Forever in 2022.

Officer Kyle Vascanelos.

Officer Vascanelos was born and raised in Fall River. He graduated from Diamond Vocational High School and held several senior account and sales positions from 2018 to 2024. which proved to be beneficial to his leadership role as class president of the Randolph Academy class. This group's success was a direct result of his leadership and hard work.

Officer Michael Reundo. Officer Rayundo was born and raised in Fall River. He attended Bishop Connelly High School and later attained his criminal justice degree from BCC. Officer Remondo also had a leadership role in the Randolph Academy as the sergeant at arms, also known as the governor.

Officer Ryan Sheret. Officer Sheret was born and raised in Forever. He graduated from Argusy Collegia High School and earned a trade degree from New England Institute of Technology.

One of the younger members of the group, Officer Sheret, has proven his ability to adapt and grow through the hiring process and the police academy.

Officer Matthew Pelleter. Officer Pelleter was born and raised in Forever, where he graduated Dery High School. One of the youngest officers of the group, Officer Pelleter, has demonstrated his maturity and eagerness throughout the hiring process in the academy.

Mommy.

Officer Brian Doss Santos. Officer Doss Santos was born and raised in Fall River. For a short time, Officer Doss Santos moved to Brazil to be with his parents due to due to their retirement.

In 2023, he decided to return to Fall River and pursue his own career, which led him to apply to the Fall River Police Department. Officer Doss Santos is the youngest of the group, but his he has displayed maturity and an eagerness to succeed as a police officer.

Officer Christian Ortiz, born in Attalboroough, Massachusetts, and raised in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Officer Ortiz is a military veteran who served in the Army as a military police officer. He also worked as a criminal analyst for the Rhode Island Counterdrug Unit. Officer Ortiz brings with him two years of law enforcement experience.

Officer Ortiz, we thank you for your service.

These officers join us with valuable knowledge, diverse backgrounds, specialized skills, and previous law enforcement experience that will benefit the residents of Fall River. We are honored to welcome them to our department and wish them every success as they begin their careers in the Fall River Police Department. Please join me in giving these new officers a well-deserved round of applause for

their dedication and commitment to serving the CITY OF FLORIDA.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE to call Deputy Chief James T. to say a few words.

Good afternoon. I appreciate everyone being here. It's an exciting moment for not only the city, but for our agency as well. Uh, first and foremost, I'd like to thank the families for your commitment and sacrifice over the last few months that you were able to put up with the demands of the police academy.

Uh I know that it's a change for many of your lives in many different ways and your support is greatly appreciated and attributes to the success that this academy class has been able to achieve.

With that said, I think you've heard the diverse backgrounds that every one of these individuals come from. Uh they are truly the fabric of our community. They are the fabric of this country and they are going to set out on a journey in this city that is a whole new obstacle for them. they have the opportunity to be the culture and to set the reputation for this police department. Uh with this

group here puts us over a 100 police officers on our job that have less than two years experience. Some people may be surprised by that, but I get up every day and I'm excited by that because it's a blank slate for which we can write a lot of the wrongs of our past and also create a community that is tighter with its law enforcement agency. Uh what you just witnessed here today, I'm a man of

tradition. I'm fifth generation in my family to serve this great police department. 170 years of police officers have signed a book just like that. We have the archives back at the police department. So, it's a moving experience to see that because with that tradition are the promises that officers in that book uh have kept over over a century.

These officers have now embarked on that same journey, signed their promise to the community and themselves to do what is right no matter what, even when no one's looking. So, I leave you with this, officers of this class. At 3:00 in the morning, when no one's looking and you have a question of what you should be doing, think back to the people that made the commitment in that book, the

promises that they have, and make sure that you're on the right path because the voices will speak out of that book and be the guiding light for you to do what's right for this community. Thank you very much. Call up Chief Kelly.

Good afternoon.

Today you all took an oath and join the ranks of those who have served and protected this city with honor for generations.

You are sworn into a department that is held in its highest regard by this community and by law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth and beyond. The Force Department is more than a police force. It is a tradition.

It is a standard. It is a promise to the city. We are the community and the community is the police.

And that bond has been built through centuries of trust, respect, and teamwork.

Inside our building, we stand shouldertosh shoulder as one team.

Rank, assignment, entitle matters less than loyalty, trust, and having one another's backs. Outside those walls, that same teamwork extends to the community we serve. together. That is what makes this department strong and the city safer.

To the families here today, this moment belongs to you as well. Your sacrifice, your support, and your strength are the quiet force behind officer behind every officer standing before us. As a daughter, a wife and a mother of police officers, I understand that sacrifice personally.

This badge is worn by your loved one, but its weight is carried by all of you.

This department honors that sacrifice and we will always stand with you.

Today, these officers dawn the uniform worn by heroes who came before you. Men and women who ran towards danger, upheld the law with integrity, and wore this uniform with pride.

That legacy now rests on your shoulders.

Carry it with honor.

Serve with integrity. Protect with courage.

Be the officer you want at your family's door. Be the officer your partner wants beside them.

Be the officer worthy of this uniform.

Welcome to the for police department.

Stand tall, wear the badge with pride, and serve with honor. Welcome and congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Before I conclude the ceremony, I just want to say I've been with these officers uh from the from the beginning last spring and uh it's been a long journey for them all. Um, I'm truly impressed by how much dedication, motivation, and effort that they put into this career path that they've chosen. Uh, usually when you have a big large class like this going to a police academy, you expect a lot of hiccups

along the way, but I must say, um, I I felt confident in everybody in this particular group. Um, I didn't receive much back from the academy director, which is actually a good thing when you don't hear much back from her or him.

And, uh, they all made it through, uh, with no issues. And, um, I'm very proud of them all. So, with that said, I want to thank everybody again for attending today's ceremony. Um, it means a lot to us and it means a lot to them. Thank you all for your time and enjoy the rest of the day. Thank you.