Five New Bedford police officers promoted, two receive achievement award on Saturday

On Saturday, March 18, 2017, the New Bedford Police Department celebrated the promotions of five department members and honored two department members for outstanding service at a ceremony at the auditorium of Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Blvd.

Lt. Adelino Sousa, a 23-year veteran, was be promoted to captain and Sgt. Evan Bielski, a 13-year veteran, was promoted to lieutenant. Officers Stanley Chaberek, an 18-year veteran; Norman Duchesneau, a 31-year veteran, and Kurt Dreher, a 23-year veteran, will be promoted to sergeant.

Two officers received the Chief’s Achievement Award.

Sgt. Mark Stone, a 29-year veteran of the force, was honored for his many community activities, including his support of Team Owen, which raises money in honor of Owen Simmons, who died from spinal muscular atrophy, and his involvement in organizing Shop with a Cop, a holiday event in which members of the police department accompany children in need on a shopping excursion at Target to ensure they and their families have holiday presents.

Officer Leonard Mota, a 30-year veteran of the force, was honored for his 20 years as a senior staff instructor for the Municipal Police Training Committee Plymouth Police Academy, where he mentored 26 recruit officer classes, with 1,223 recruits. He also leads New Bedford police department offices in parades and at funerals, including those for Officer Joseph Camara in 2003 and Chief David Provencher in 2015.