Norwich — Two veteran police officers thanked family, supervisors, fellow officers, friends and supporters during a promotion ceremony Friday for supporting them in what one called a “very, very noble profession.”

Police Chief Patrick Daley on Friday promoted 14-year Norwich police veteran Sgt. Thomas Lazzaro to lieutenant and 12-year Norwich police veteran Detective Scott Meikle to sergeant. Daley called Lazzaro “one of the highest-trained members" of the department. Meikle has received numerous commendations, including a Police Exceptional Service Medal, a Red Cross Heroes Award and a Life Saving Medal.

Lazzaro said every officer hears questions about why he or she entered the police force. He said when he gets that question, he answers that the job “is still a very, very noble profession” and he and his colleagues are on the streets every day performing to the best of their ability.

“To me, it’s just an honor, it’s a privilege to be part of a police department that is so professional, that has such great officers that constantly go out there and do the right thing,” he said. “It’s just remarkable to me, and the teamwork and the camaraderie, it’s just phenomenal.”

Lazzaro, who lives in Salem, is filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Lt. Timothy Rykowski and will be the evening shift commander. He graduated from East Providence High School and attended Rhode Island College. He has received an Exceptional Service Award and Perfect Attendance awards for the past 13 years.

Lazzaro’s mother, Judith McInnis, pinned on his new badge, as his father, Richard McInnis, a retired 31-year police officer from the Barrington, R.I., department watched. "We're just super proud of him,” Lazzaro’s mother said.

Meikle and his wife, Heather, who pinned on his badge, live in Salem. Meikle has six children: Brayden, 11; Aubrianna, 9; Mckenna, 8; Kolton, 7; Harper, 1, and Lukas, 3 months.

Meikle thanked his family for their support and said his promotion was as much theirs as his. He thanked extended family members for filling in last minute as babysitters and supporters when needed. He also thanked Chief Daley and current and past supervisors for all their support.

"Thank you does not seem like a big enough word for all you guys have done for me for the last year-and-a-half,” he said.

Meikle earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Western New England University in Springfield in 2006. He started his career as a police officer for the Bristol Police Department and joined the Norwich department in February 2009.

In Norwich, he served as a K-9 patrol officer until July 2020, when he was assigned to the detective division. He will be assigned to the midnight shift as patrol supervisor.

c.bessette@theday.com