Three promoted Euclid police officers were honored at the Jan. 20 city council meeting.
Longtime members Dave Williams, Tim Verh and Kevin Kelly were joined by their families as Police Chief Tom Brickman swore them into their new positions.
“The officers being promoted worked extremely hard to achieve the promotions,” Brickman said. “The promotional preparation process is absolutely grueling, those who participated in it know what I’m talking about, and to finally reach the moment when you get the promotion and the badge is really a great time for the department.”
With those new badges comes new responsibilities and a more difficult job, Brickman said.
“But with that new and difficult job comes individual growth,” he said. “These officers are going to develop into their new positions and they’re going to be better and the department is going to be better as a result of this.”
Kelly, who has been with the department since 1988, has been promoted to captain. In his new position, Kelly will oversee the detective bureau and record room operations. He was promoted to sergeant in 2009 and lieutenant in 2011. He has been a member of the Euclid SWAT team and commander of the emergency response team.
Verh, who joined the department in 1991, has been promoted to lieutenant. He will serve as a shift commander in his new role. Verh was previously promoted to sergeant in 2011. He has served in the traffic unit and was temporarily in charge of the traffic unit in 2011. He has also served as the commander of the police auxiliary unit.
Williams, who joined the department in 1998, was promoted to sergeant. He has worked his entire career in the patrol division and firearms instructor an armorer a range officer. In his new role he will serve as a patrol supervisor.