EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Department recently added two new officers to its roster and promoted a number of its members at a small swearing-in ceremony held at the East Providence City Hall Council Chambers.

Mayor Bob DaSilva and Chief William Nebus administered the oaths to the new recruits, probationary officers Christopher Day and Ryan Havunen, and six existing members of the EPPD received elevated ranks during a ceremony last week at City Hall.

The officers included:

Barry Ramer was promoted to the rank of captain after 27 years with the EPPD. Capt. Ramer served on the FDA Task Force for 10 years and was instrumental in the investigation which led to a $60 million forfeiture award to the police department. Capt. Ramer is also the long-time commander of the East Providence Police Special Reaction Team. He will now serve as a Patrol Division Commander.

Michael Rapoza was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He graduated from Westfield State College with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and minor in psychology and is currently enrolled in the master’s program at Johnson and Wales University with a focus on Public Administration. He was hired by the Swansea Police Dept. after completing the Massachusetts Police Training Council Academy. After working for the SPD for several years, he was hired by the EPPD in 2005. Lt. Rapoza has served as a patrol officer, a narcotics investigator, sergeant in the patrol division and as sergeant in the Office of Professional Standards. Also during his tenure at the EPPD, he has been a Field Training Officer, a Drug Recognition Expert, a member of the Peer Support Team and Honor Guard. Lt. Rapoza is a 13-year member of the Special Reaction Team, currently serving as a team leader and also a POST certified firearms instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Training Academy. Lt. Rapoza was joined by his wife Meredith and daughters, Amelia and Charlotte.

Sgt. Andrew Dubois was hired by the EPPD after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Ida College in 2003, Sgt. Dubois attended and graduated from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy in 2004. He is currently in his 17th year with the department. After spending seven years in the patrol division, Sgt. Dubois was assigned to the vice unit in 2011 and then assigned to the DEA Task Force from 2012-2016. He was then served in the Services and Prosecution Unit from 2016-2020. Prior to his promotion to Sergeant, he was promoted to Detectives. Sgt. Dubois is currently assigned to the patrol division. He was joined by his father, retired East Providence Police Major Donald Dubois, his son Donovan, girlfriend Pam Chin and Charlotte Jones.

Sgt. Stephen Rodrigues earned his Bachelor of Science degree Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University and is currently enrolled in Salve Regina University master’s degree program with a focus in Administration of Justice. He began his career at the East Providence Police Department in 2012 in the patrol division. In February 2019, Sgt. Rodrigues was promoted to the rank of detective corporal and assigned to the major crimes division. In March of 2019 he received the department’s exceptional service award for an incident involving a missing/suicidal party who was located in Providence. He served as the 2020-21 Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy Class Training Officer. Sgt. Rodrigues is a member of the Special Reaction Team and most recently became certified as a team sniper. He was joined by his wife Kristen, mother Sherri and father James.

Det. Cpl Warren Caldwell attended the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy 2008, after having worked as a Patrol Officer and Elderly Affairs Officer in the Town of Tiverton. He joined the ranks of the East Providence Police Department in 2014. During his tenure with the department, Det. Caldwell worked as a Patrol Officer prior to being promoted to the Detectives Division. He is a department Field Training Officer, a member of the Special Reaction Team, Honor Guard, and the Motor Unit. In 2019, Det. Caldwell was commissioned as an Officer into the United States Naval Reserve and is currently completing his training as a Naval Intelligence Officer. He is a 2007 graduate of Roger Williams University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a 2016 graduate of Salve Regina University, with a Master's degree in Administration of Justice and Homeland Security. Det. Caldwell was joined by his wife Jennifer and their two sons Warren IV and George.

Det. Cpl. Dennis Medeiros graduated with an Associates in Science from Hesser College. Shortly after, he started his law enforcement career with the Tiverton Police Department. When the opportunity presented to return to his hometown and join the East Providence Police Department, he gladly accepted. Det. Medeiros has enjoyed being a Patrol Officer for 17 years. During that time he worked in Community Policing for four years and continued patrolling the neighborhoods in which he was raised. Det. Medeiros looks forward to continuing to serve this community. He was joined by his wife, Christine Medeiros.