A Glance at the 13 Sergeants Promoted on Merit

Here are the 13 sergeants Police Supt. Matt Rodriguez said were promoted to lieutenant “on the basis of meritorious performance,” as opposed to high test scores:

Joseph Blas, 52 (Hispanic), is with the Belmont Area detective unit and is a board member of the Latin American Police Association. A police officer for 24 years, he has been a sergeant for seven years and oversees special field operations such as the pawn shop detail and hotel investigations. He is a former bomb and arson supervisor, with 148 honorable mentions and two commendations.

Melba Bradford, 52 (Black), has been a police officer since 1976, a sergeant for six years, and had eight honorable mentions. She is commanding officer of the gun registration section and holds master’s degrees in criminal justice and public administration.

James Carroll, 41 (White), is with the Deering District and has been a police officer for 15 years and a sergeant since 1990. He has 85 honorable mentions, two commendations and leads an “outstanding tactical unit,” Rodriguez said. Carroll also has led successful, high-profile gambling raids.

James Collier, 48 (Black), has been a police officer for 26 years, a sergeant for 17 years and holds a master’s degree in criminal justice. He has been a highly praised tactical unit leader and now is a budget analyst and special investigations coordinator for the special functions group.

Joseph D’Antonio, 46 (White), of the narcotics division, has been a policeman for 24 years and a sergeant since 1982. He has 146 honorable mentions and six commendations, and is rated as one of the city’s top drug investigators.

Peter Dignan, 47 (White), is with the narcotics division and has been a policeman since 1969 and a sergeant for six years. He has 109 honorable mentions and was just decorated for saving the lives of two wounded colleagues. He shot and killed the drug suspect who shot them last October.

Thomas Keane, 44 (White), is a Belmont Area detective supervisor often assigned to high-profile homicide cases. A police officer since 1971 and a sergeant for nine years, he has 17 honorable mentions and six commendations.

Donald Kuchar, 40 (White), of the Deering District, has 65 honorable mentions, three commendations and one award of merit. He has been a police officer for 17 years, a sergeant since 1988, and is a veteran tactical unit leader.

Kenneth Mann, 45 (Black), is the supervisor of an award-winning tactical unit in the Wentworth District, with 34 honorable mentions and two commendations. He has been a gang crimes expert on the force since 1976 and has been a sergeant for eight years.

Lucio Martinez, 42 (Hispanic), has been a policeman since 1977 and a sergeant for six years. He is now assigned to the Grand Central Area detective unit. He is a former president of the Latin American Police Association.

Arthur Parra, 40 (Hispanic), is a gang crimes specialist who also headed the Latin American Police Association. He has been on the force since 1977 and has been a sergeant for four years. He has 57 honorable mentions and six commendations.

Alberta Raymond, 43 (Black), of the Wentworth District, has 35 honorable mentions and two commendations. She investigates police recruits, handles the Police Department’s “personnel concerns” program, and has been a patrol sergeant in three districts. She has been on the force since 1978 and has been a sergeant for six years. Phillip Richardson, 43 (Black) has been a policeman for 28 years and a sergeant since 1991. He has 34 honorable mentions and helps supervise the Englewood District’s highly praised community patrol program.