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The New Bedford Police Department promoted three department members Tuesday Oct. 17 during a ceremony at Keith Middle School.
During the ceremony, Lt. Amos Melo was officially promoted to captain, Sgt. Robert Holmes Jr. to lieutenant and Officer Paul Fonseca to sergeant.
Capt. Melo began his career with the New Bedford Police Department in 1989 and worked as a patrolman at all three stations until 1993, when he was promoted to detective in the Narcotics Division. He worked in Narcotics from 1993 to 1998, when he was promoted to sergeant.
He was assigned to the Professional Standards Division from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he was assigned to the Juvenile, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit (now known as the family services unit) until 2006. He returned to uniform patrol until 2009, when he became supervisor of the School Resource Division.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 2014 and became a uniform patrol platoon commander until June 2016, when he was named public information officer and administrative assistant to Chief Joseph Cordeiro.
He has received a number of awards, including a lifesaving award for helping an occupant escape a fire, an honorable service award for preventing a deadly encounter and an official citation from the Massachusetts State Senate for commitment and dedicated service to the youth of Greater New Bedford.
Robert H. Holmes Jr. began his career as a police cadet in 1988 and was appointed a police officer in 1989. He was named a detective in 1993 and served as a detective until 2007, when he was promoted to sergeant. He became a department court liaison in 2009.
He has received a number of awards, including a lifesaving award for saving someone from committing suicide and thank yous from many organizations and individuals.
Paul Fonseca was appointed a police officer in 2001. He began working in the community police division in 2008 and the narcotics unit in 2013.
He has received a number of awards, including New Bedford Police certificates of commendation for public safety and for saving a life and a Massachusetts Police Association medal of valor for action in the line of duty.
