Maya McFadden Photo
Cherelle Carr with sister Shenae at Tuesday's promotional ceremony.
As she and her colleagues took the oath to become New Haven police sergeants, Cherelle Carr thought back to when she almost went to school to be a lawyer.
Carr was among officers promoted at a ceremony held late Tuesday afternoon at Wilbur Cross High School Tuesday. The other new sergeants are Francisco Sanchez, Bryan Phillips, Joshua Kyle, Jarrell Lowery, Jonathan Lambe and Justin Cole.
Carr, a New Haven native, recalled how ten years ago she was on her way to becoming a lawyer until she strayed into a police course at Quinnpiac University. The course changed her entire career trajectory.
“I thought to myself, ‘This is how I can give back to the community,’ ” she recalled.
Carr saw her promotion Tuesday as “not just for me, but for my community too,” she said.
Fifteen year old Shenae Cowan pinned Carr’s new badge on Tuesday. She said she was proud of her older sister, whom she looks up to.
“I knew I had to have her a part of this, because I want her to feel like she can do anything,” Carr said of her sister.
Carr hopes to be a role model for young Black women and others, she said.
The Tuesday celebration affirmed to her that the past ten years she have been “doing exactly what I’m here for.”
In her new role she said she looks forward to being a model of community policing for those she’ll supervise. That includes walking beats that will get officers “out there talking and meeting people.”
Police Commission Chair Evelise Ribeiro.
New Haven Police Commission Chair Evelise Ribeiro congratulated the newly minted sergeants, who have experience serving in the patrol division, criminal intelligence unit, narcotics enforcement unit, field training officer, and firearms unit.
“I appreciate all the experience and knowledge that you bring to the new job, but I encourage you to listen more, to watch more, learn more, and do more in your new role especially when it comes to your engagement in the community,” Ribeiro said.
The new sergeants hold degrees in criminal justice, case management, justice and law administration. They have also served on walking beats and bicycle patrols, and as officers in residence (meaning living in New Haven housing developments).
“The expectations are high, so don’t lose sight that the safety and trust of the community in your department should be your first and foremost thought when you make the decisions, when you give your staff instructions, and when you engage with the various people in the neighborhoods you are working and visiting outside of your respected police duties,“Ribeiro said. “Because you are a police officer and a sergeant in uniform and out of uniform.”
Carol Ortiz Photo
Sgt. Jonathan Lambe and wife/colleague Patricia Lambe.
Interim Police Chief Renee Dominguez also congratulated the group of sergeants, whom she called her kids.
“Some of the individuals to my left I have supervised directly. Some I have cried along side of. Some we have only had passing conversations or contact,” she said.
When Dominguez served as district manager in Westville, those she supervised were known as “Sarge’s kids” and “contributed to my success,” she said.
Dominguez recalled getting promoted to sergeant exactly nine years earlier in the same Wilbur Cross auditorium.
“You are no longer responsible only for yourself. There will be difficult decisions and an unnatural dance as you transition from friend, peer, partner to supervisor,” she said.
She reminded the group that the position also comes with a rewarding experience of molding new officers, being a voice for the department, and reinvigorating veteran officers.
Maya McFadden Photo
Officer Bryan Phillips gets pinned by wife.
The officers’ family members and colleagues pinned on their new sergeant badges. They were sworn in by Mayor Justin Elicke.
Elicker thanked the officers families for supporting them through their brave public service journeys.
Officer Jarrell Lowery celebrates promotion with his family.
Officer Jarrell Lowery was supported by a dozen family members Tuesday.
Lowery, who is a part of the officer-in-residence program, grew up in New Haven. He said he looks forward to the new chapter as sergeant.
“I can’t wait to raise a new generation of officers who understand the commitment to the community,” he said.
Lowery joined the department six years ago with the goal of serving his hometown.
He took the sergeant test after seeing that recruits in the department lacked structure and a role model after moving on from their posts as field training officers (FTO).
“My style of policing will be an extension of community policing,” Lowery said.
Detective Joshua Kyle and wife Debbie Kalita.
