NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has welcomed five new police officers, a new firefighter and promoted a new sergeant.

 

City Council chambers were packed  Tuesday with friends, family and colleagues and Mayor Thomas Bernard again quipped they were all in the safest place in the city. 

 

"I think I made this joke every time we have the opportunity," he joked. 

 

Ryan Richards was sworn in by City Clerk Deborah Pedercini as a permanent firefighter, after some time as a reserve. Fire Chief Stephen Meranti beckoned his parents, Bruce and Lauren Richards, up to the podium and his father pinned on Richards' new shield and his mother gave him a hug. 

 

Robert Barrett, Dana Clement, Taylor Kline, and Sakan Sadowsky, recent graduates of the police academy, were then sworn in as patrol officers by Pedercini along with John Brack, who had been an officer in the state of Florida before joining the North Adams force. 

 

Pedercini also swore Brad Vivori into his new post as sergeant. Vivori joined the force as a permanent officer in 2012 after a period as a reserve. He was a detective before his promotion to sergeant. 

 

Vivori's father, Ross, pinned on his new shield — after Police Chief Jason Wood found the momentarily misplaced item, which led to some joshing from the mayor and councilors.

 

The mayor pointed to both Richards and Vivori's family tradition of service: Bruce Richards has worked for the city in the Department of Public Works for 30 years and Vivori has been the city assessor for nearly a decade.

 

"I know many of the families of our new officers who graduated from the academy were there with us in Fall River two weeks ago, but I want to thank them again while they're here," Bernard said.

 

In his communique to the City Council requesting the time for a public swearing in  during the council's televised meeting, the mayor stated that "Sergeant Vivori has distinguished himself through his training, service, and commitment to the department and the residents of the City of North Adams; I am confident our new officers and our new firefighter will embody the same commitment to excellence, and will serve the City of North Adams with distinction."