Chief flips the script during swearing-in ceremony, welcomes officers to this ‘amazing city’

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MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard’s tone was notably upbeat Monday morning, as he welcomed three officers to the force [See video above for full remarks and pinning ceremony.]

Yes, said Willard, the city is up against a heroin epidemic, and officers are working hard to stay on top of the ballooning increase in calls for service.

But there’s a lot to love about Manchester.

Willard flipped the script, choosing instead to dwell on the “other” Manchester that the three new officers – John Dunleavy, a former Winchester Police officer, Ryan Olsen, who served the Concord Police Department before fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a cop in his hometown, and Joseph Tucker, a former Laconia Police officer – will experience.

“You’re going to see things within the city of Manchester that few people see,” said Willard. “But the other thing you don’t know is that this is an amazing city with wonderful people in it. So as much as  you’re going to be out there protecting it, you’re also going to see some pretty amazing things. I’m sure you’re not expecting that – based on what you see in the media – but that’s the narrative we need to change.”

Willard spoke about the camaraderie and commitment the three officers will no doubt find working in the city of Manchester.

“Your colleagues are going to amaze you,” Willard said, using a string of positively-charged words like “connectivity,” “appreciation” and “supportive.”

He also mentioned that 375 applicants have shown interest in being Manchester officers, following the Nov. 12 deadline for the next round of entrance exams. Fewer than 200 applications were submitted for either of the last two hiring rounds. The department has 19 unfilled positions, which Willard expects to fill as quickly as possible.

“That’s a testament to the respect the people of New Hampshire have for Manchester Police Department,” Willard said, of the high interest in the Nov. 21 exam.

The three new officers will spend the next 20 weeks preparing for the job, including 12 weeks of field training with senior officers.

Also celebrated Monday were promotions for three longtime Manchester officers who will all bring their years of experience to the patrol division: Michael Begley was promoted to Captain of the patrol division; Lt. Steve Mangone will now serve as shift commander of the patrol division; and Sgt. Brian Caldwell will move from the sex offender compliance unit to the patrol division.

 

Gallery

Biographies
Capt. Michael Begley
Capt. Michael Begley

Capt. Michael J. Begley has served as a law-enforcement professional for nearly 21 years, first serving with the Concord Police Department before joining the Manchester Police Department in 1999.   He is a 1995 graduate of the 105th Session of the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy.

Capt. Begley is a graduate of East Catholic High School in Manchester, CT, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Saint Anselm College, in Manchester in 1992. Over the course of his career has also attained certification in a number of specialized training programs.

During his tenure with MPD, Capt. Begley has served as a patrol officer, bike officer, and Field Training officer. Upon his promotion to Sergeant in 2009, he served as a Patrol Street Supervisor, and since his promotion to Lieutenant in 2013, he has served as Patrol Shift Commander. As Captain, Mike will be assigned as the Commander of the Patrol Division.

Mike is certified as a member of the department’s Critical Incident Team and is currently one of the team supervisors. He was instrumental in the creation of and currently serves on the department’s Critical Incident Management / Peer Support Team.

In 2008, Capt. Begley was the recipient of the NH Police Standards and Training Council Looking Beyond the Traffic Ticket award in the Excellent Police Tactics and Observation Skills Team category.

In 2013, Capt. Begley was awarded the MPD Chief’s Achievement Medal for his efforts in creating a Critical Incident Management Team and for assisting with guiding the chain of events leading to the passage of state legislation to benefit the team. For these efforts, Capt. Begley was also presented a NH Congressional Law Enforcement Award in the “Above and Beyond” category.

In 2014, Capt. Begley received a Certificate of Recognition for his efforts in creating and implementing a Warrant Impact Team which went after wanted individuals who were considered dangerous or habitual criminals, resulting in 107 arrests over a four-month period.

Capt. Begley and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 22 years and have two children, Katie and Sean.

Lt. Steve Mangone
Lt. Steve Mangone

Lt. Steven A. Mangone has served as a law-enforcement professional for 17 ½ years, joining the Manchester Police Department in 1998. He is a graduate of the 116th Session of the NH Police Standards and Training Council academy.

Steve is a graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, MA, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with minors in education and business administration from Salem State College in Massachusetts.

Over the course of his career, Lt. Mangone has also attained certification in a number of specialized training programs.

During his tenure with MPD, Lt. Mangone has served as a Patrolman, a Domestic Assault Response Team investigator, and as a Detective within the Domestic Violence Unit, and as the Adult Arraignment Officer within the Legal Division, a position he retained upon his promotion to Sergeant in 2012. Since 2013, he has served as the Supervisor of the Training Unit. As a Lieutenant, he will be assigned to the Patrol Division as a Shift Commander.

Lt. Mangone is a veteran of the Massachusetts Army National Guard; he was honorably discharged in 1999, after serving for eight years. Steve was recently presented the MPD Military Service Medal in appreciation of his service.

In September, Lt. Mangone was awarded the Chief’s Achievement in recognition of his outstanding performance of duty as Supervisor of the Training Unit, especially with regard to his and his staff’s tireless efforts during the past two years in which they conducted a non-stop hiring process, ultimately hiring 41 police officers and eight civilian staff members.

Lt. Mangone has served on the Manchester Police Relief board since 2006. He currently serves as a board member for the Honor Flight New England program, which is based here in New Hampshire.

Lt Mangone has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 13 years; they have two sons, Dominic and Joseph.

Sgt. Michael Caldwell
Sgt. Brian Caldwell

Sgt. Brian H. Caldwell has served as a law-enforcement professional for 15 years, joining the Manchester Police Department in 2000. He is a graduate of the 123rd Session of the NH Police Standards and Training Council Police Academy.

Sgt. Caldwell is a graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School in Rehoboth, MA, and is currently studying toward a bachelor degree in justice studies, with a focus on cyber security, at Southern New Hampshire University.

Over the course of his career, Sgt. Caldwell has also attained certification in a number of specialized training programs.

During his tenure with MPD,  Sgt. Caldwell has served as a Patrolman, a Community Policing Officer, an undercover investigator with the Special Investigations Unit, and was assigned as Metro Team Leader to the NH Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. Since 2012, he has been assigned as an investigator with the Sexual Offender Compliance Unit. As a sergeant, he will be assigned to Patrol.

Sgt. Caldwell has been the recipient of several awards:

In 2007, he was awarded a Police Standards and Training Council “Looking Beyond the Traffic Ticket” Award in the City Drug Enforcement Team Player category.

With regard to his work as an undercover investigator, he has received many certificates of recognition from the New England Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, the N.H. Drug Task Force, and from the U.S. Attorney’s commending his efforts in various multi-agency collaborative initiatives.

In 2011, Sgt. Caldwell also received an MPD Certificate of Recognition for his contribution to undercover investigative efforts which ultimately brought about the arrest of three violent subjects responsible for a series of shotgun armed robberies in the city.

In 2012, upon the conclusion of his service within the Special Investigations Unit, he was presented an Outstanding Service Award.

Sgt. Caldwell has been married to his wife, Tracy, for 13 years; they have 2 sons, Ethan and Danny.

Officer John Dunleavy
Officer John Dunleavy

Officer John D. Dunleavy, 30, was raised in New Milford, Conn., and is a graduate of Immaculate High School in Danbury, Conn. – class of 2003.   He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Keene State College in Keene, NH in 2008.

Since 2013, John has been employed as a police officer with the Winchester Police Department, and is a graduate of the 162nd session of the N.H. Police Academy.

Officer Ryan P. Olsen
Officer Ryan Olsen

Officer Ryan P. Olsen, 26, was born and raised in Manchester, and is a graduate of Trinity High School – class of 2008.   He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in human kinetics from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in 2013.

Since 2014, Officer Olsen has been employed as a police officer with the Concord Police Department. He is a graduate of the 164th session of the N.H. Police Academy.

Officer Joseph Tucker
Officer Joseph Tucker

Officer Joseph M. Tucker, 29, was raised in Chichester and is a graduate of Pembroke Academy – class of 2004.

From 2004 to 2007 he served with the U.S. Army assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Carson, CO. His years of service included a one-year deployment to Iraq.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended Colby-Sawyer College in New London for two years, studying toward a degree in business administration.

Since 2014, Officer Tucker has been employed as a police officer with the Laconia Police Department. He is a graduate of the 163rd session of the N.H. Police Academy.


 

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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!