The Manchester Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Family members “pinned” eight city police officers with their new badges at a recent promotions ceremony in the Police Athletic League/Officer Michael Briggs Community Center.
Chief David J. Mara said he wanted to publicly thank the men and women of the department for the work they did in the Michael Briggs murder case. Citing the Attorney General’s Office as well, he said: “I can’t tell you how proud I am.”
With a nod to Mayor Frank Guinta and Aldermen Michael Lopez and Real Pinard, who were there, Mara thanked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for approving the promotions at a time of tight budgets.
“They recognized that public safety is paramount,” he said.
The newly promoted officers are Capt. Jonathan Hopkins, Lt. Ernest Goodno III, Lt. Shawn Fournier, Lt. Peter Favreau, Sgt. Ryan Grant, Sgt. Michael Begley, Sgt. Paul Thompson and Sgt. Mark Sanclemente.
Mara said each of the promoted officers had already demonstrated leadership ability and a high level of motivation, but they have company. Forty eligible officers had taken the recent sergeants’ exam. With only four slots to fill, he said: “It wasn’t an easy decision.”
He said the different backgrounds and experience of the officers promoted will make the department stronger. Nearly all have college degrees, some earned while serving as police officers, including Fournier’s master’s in public administration.
All have earned specialized training certifications. Some had police experience before joining the Manchester Police Department.
Their years as Manchester officers ranges from more than 20 years for Goodno, now a patrol shift supervisor and Hopkins, who will head the Patrol Division, to nine years for Sanclemente, who came to Manchester after six years with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Mara’s department reorganization plan was intended to emphasize community policing and to provide more resources to officers in the field. Of the 225 members of the department, he said, 75 have less than five years experience and 75 have five to 10 years.
Now, when a supervisor arrives on scene, he said, the reaction will be: “Oh, good. Here comes Sgt. Sanclemente,” not “Oh, no.”
While gentle laughter greeted that prediction, Mara said the turnout for the sergeant’s exam is just one indication of the enthusiasm about the “new” department.
“It’s important that the public knows what kind of police officers the community has,” he said.
Copyright 2009 Union Leader Corp.