Four Officers Sworn into Newport Police Department

The welcomed four new officers to its ranks Tuesday morning, as they were sworn in by the Newport City Clerk. Family, friends and relatives attended in support as well as to pin on their badges for their official and symbolic rite of passage into the department.

Jason Thurston, 37, Matthew Jepson, 31, Nicholas St. Lawrence, 27, and Stephen Carrig, 25, swore to protect the City of Newport during Tuesday’s ceremony. They will each train under field training officers Robert Caruolo, Matthew Clark, Eric Barden, and Eric Geoghegan.

Thurston joins the ranks from Chatham, MA, where he graduated from Chatham High School. He graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in Administration of Justice and most recently worked for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office in Dartmouth MA, as a corrections officer.

Jepson currently lives in Woonsocket and attended North Scituate Jr./Sr. High School. He attended the Community College of Rhode Island seeking an associate’s degree in law enforcement. Jepson last worked as a manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Providence and Boston areas and is also a certified personal trainer.

St. Lawrence, of Warwick, graduated from Toll Gate High School and holds an degree in law enforcement from the Community College of Rhode Island. He currently holds the rank of Airman 1^st Class in the United States Air Force, where he graduated boot camp with honors in 2010. St. Lawrence is also a certified personal trainer and a two-time national champion BMX rider and an X-Games nominee.

Carrig, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., graduated from Ballston Spa High School  and holds a degree in public justice from SUNY-Oswego.  He most recently worked as a security guard for Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 

All four officers graduated together from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy on May 27.

“You will be feared by criminals, respected and appreciated by the law abiding public,” City Manager Edward F. Lavallee said in his address to the department's newest officers. “You are a symbol of safety and icon of honesty, courage and integrity.”

Lavallee went on to explain their duties to not only protect a city that houses 26,000 residents, but also to act as gatekeepers for the millions of visitors that come to Newport each year.

“Today and hereafter your life is changed,” he said. “People will trust you. . .guard that trust.”

During the ceremony, Lavallee also announced Cpt. Gary Silva will serve as interim Police Chief, who will replace Police Chief Michael McKenna.