Photo/Video Gallery: Newton Police Honor Promoted Officers

As of yesterday, four members of the  officially have a new title in front of their name, and a nice addition to their uniform. 

During a swearing-in ceremony yesterday at Newton Police Headquarters, four men were honored for their promotions, including Sgt. Bradford Leitch, Sgt. Steven Dempsey, Sgt. Damien Doucette and Lt. Charles Leone.

"As you're sworn in this morning, remember that the lives of the officers that work for you are now your responsibility," Police Chief Matthew Cummings said during the ceremony. "Respect the respect that comes with your promotion, you earned it."

In addition to Cummings, also stopped by to congratulate the four men during the ceremony, which was filled with applause from a room of friends, family and colleagues. 

Leitch, Dempsey and Doucette were all promoted from patrolmen while Leone was promoted from sergeant. 

Here are some biographies of the men who were honored today as provided by the Newton Police:

• Sgt. Damien Doucette is a life-long resident of Newton, graduating from Newton North High School in 1995. He was hired by the Newton Police Department on March 6, 2000 and has served in the Patrol Bureau for the past 11 years, working nights assigned in the Second Platoon. Sergeant Doucette has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Norwich University. He has a long family history with the Newton Police, and his mother Maureen is a dedicated employee who currently serves as a parking control officer.
• Sgt. Bradford L. Leitch is an 11-year veteran with the Newton Police Department. He was born and raised in Newtonville, graduating from the “old” Newton North High School in 1988. He attended Northeastern University in 1994 and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Criminal Justice degree. After college Sergeant Leitch served with the United States Customs Service in Boston. In 2000, he accepted a position as a Police Officer with the city of Newton, attending and graduating from the Weymouth 1st M.P.O.C. Academy. Since his academy graduation he has been assigned to the Patrol Bureau where he served in the Third, Fourth and First Platoons. While in the Patrol Bureau he served as a Field Training Officer for many years.
• Sgt. Steven F. Dempsey was born on May 11, 1961, in Newton and he grew up on River Street. Sergeant Dempsey graduated from Newton North High School in 1980. Prior to entering the police academy, Sergeant Dempsey worked at as a Parts Manager for Clay Chevrolet from 1985 until 1994. Sergeant Dempsey was hired by the Newton Police Department on January 10, 1994. He has served in the Patrol Bureau for eighteen years of his career, working in assignment N-492 while in the Second Platoon nights, and in N-495 while in the First Platoon days. Sergeant Dempsey was a Field Training Officer (FTO) for over 15 years and he has had an impact on many of the younger officers in this Department while serving as an FTO. While working as a night patrolman, Sergeant Dempsey worked to further his education by earning a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice at Anna Maria College. Sergeant Dempsey is married to Ellen Negoshian Dempsey, and together they have two sons, Tyler (age 12), and Connor (age 10).
• Lt. Charles P. Leone was born and raised in Newton and graduated from Newton North High School in 1986. After graduation he attended Norwich University, the nations’ oldest private military college, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1990. Prior to his appointment as Patrolman with the Newton Police in 2000, he worked for the Beaufort County Sheriffs Department as a Patrol Deputy in South Carolina from 1992 to 1995. Lieutenant Leone had also worked as a Corrections Officer for the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department from 1996 to 1998. Since his appointment to the Newton Police in March of 2000, Lieutenant Leone has been assigned to nights in the Patrol Bureau. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in October of 2005 and is currently assigned to the night shift as a Patrol Supervisor. Lieutenant Leone has also served as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, and he was a member of the Newton Police Honor Guard and Community Emergency Response Team. He is the son of Gerald and Jennie Leone, and he currently resides in Natick with his wife Sandra and their children Nicolas and Nina.