Groton — The town police department promoted two officers Tuesday and recognized several others at a ceremony attended by family members and law enforcement personnel throughout the region. 

William Wolfe, who joined the department in 2002, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. Heather Beauchamp, who has been with the department since 2001, was promoted from detective to sergeant.

Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr. said he's confident both will provide the leadership that department members deserve as they confront a host of challenges on a daily basis.

"It's a great source of pride to me both personally and professionally to see these long-serving members of our department ascend to positions of greater responsibility," he said. "In both cases they have years of dedicated service and unparalleled records of accomplishment."

Wolfe, 46, has served the department as a patrol officer, field training officer, community policing officer and has been serving as a patrol sergeant since 2013. He served as a K-9 officer for three years with his partner, Nero. He has received several awards and commendations during his service with the department, including the Medal of Honor for Bravery, K-9 Commendation as well as several MADD and unit citations. He and his wife, Kim, have three children: Olivia, William III and Marisa.

A native of Worcester, Mass., Wolfe served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 10 years prior to his police career. He attained the rank of gunnery sergeant and graduated from the Staff Noncommissioned Officer course in Quantico, Va.

Wolfe's wife, Kim, pinned on his badge. He thanked her and his family for their support, along with his coworkers and the retirees in the audience who had guided him throughout his years of service. He also thanked the taxpayers of the town for enabling the promotions.

Beauchamp, 39, has served in the patrol division as a patrol officer, field training officer, bike patrol officer, community policing officer and acting patrol sergeant. She has served as a detective since 2007 and said the investigative work is her true calling. She worked on the Division of Criminal Justice's Cold Case Task Force and most recently was assigned as a task force officer with the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.

She has received several awards and commendations during her service with the department. She recently graduated from the first line supervisor course held at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.

A native of Westerly, Beauchamp is married to Jeff Beauchamp. Her daughter, Hannah, led the assembly in the pledge of allegiance Tuesday and pinned on her mother's new badge.

Among the family members who applauded Beauchamp's promotion Tuesday were her mother; her grandfather, Edward Sylvia, who retired from the Stonington Police Department as a detective lieutenant; and her uncle, Michael Collins, a retired state police sergeant.

Fusaro presented awards to officers for their outstanding performance in three specific incidents over the past year.

Patrolman Tyler DeAngelo received a meritorious actions medal for a Feb. 26 motor vehicle stop during which he was dragged for about a mile and injured after struggling with the driver. Also recognized for their response to that incident were dispatcher Leland Rummel, who received an exceptional service medal, and dispatcher Cody Morgan, who received a letter of commendation from the chief, and members of the shift who responded. Receiving unit citation awards were Officers Geoffrey Brearley, Brenna Bolduc and Jesse Comeau, Detective Rob Emery, Officers Evan Grasser and Anthony Lucero, Master Patrol Officer Albert Martinez, Officer Stephen McAndrew, Sgt. Gregory McCarthy, Investigator Bridget Nordstrom, Officer Chad Potter and Sgt. Jeffrey Scribner.

Officer Marvel Bennett and Master Patrol Officer Albert Martinez received life saving medals for rendering assistance, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to a 47-year-old man in cardiac arrest. Their actions contributed to the man's survival, the chief said. Bennett also received a meritorious actions medal for responding to a call of "imminent childbirth" and helping a mother deliver a baby in her home on July 28, 2018. 

Upon delivery, he ensured the baby was breathing and placed the baby into the recovery position, making sure no foreign objects or fluid compromised the baby's airway. Officer Bennett stayed with the baby and encouraged both mother and father that everything was fine until EMS arrived.

Officers Devin Bedard, Eben VanVoorhies and Daniel Wilczek received life saving medals for providing medical assistance to a maintenance worker who suffered a wound to his arm that caused an arterial bleed. As a fellow maintenance worker applied pressure to the wound, Officer Bedard quickly retrieved a tourniquet and used it in an attempt to control the bleeding. Officers Wilczek and VanVoorhies arrived on scene and assisted with a second tourniquet and applying pressure to the wound until the ambulance arrived on scene and transported the patient to the hospital.

k.florin@theday.com