Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Suffolk Police Department promoted 19 individuals during a promotional ceremony held at Suffolk City Hall on Thursday.

“Make no mistake about it, the men and women of the Suffolk Police Department are the face of our community, our neighborhoods, and our city,” Mayor Linda T. Johnson stated at the ceremony. “You are the front line of communication for us to interact with our citizens, to share our vision, and to establish an atmosphere of tolerance, acceptance, harmony and vigilance.”

Those promoted were:

Maj. Cassandra Garvin

Garvin is a native of Broken Arrow, Okla., and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has worked for the Purcell, Okla., Police Department, McClain County, Okla., Sheriff’s Department, and was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in February 2007. Garvin attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. During her tenure in uniform patrol, she was promoted to sergeant in 2012, lieutenant in 2015, captain in 2017 and deputy chief in 2019. Some of her career highlights include serving as the department’s first accreditation officer, managing the department’s policy testing program, implementing the department’s recent staffing study recommendations, and developing the department’s hiring bonus initiative.

Capt. Kevin Harrison

Harrison joined the Suffolk Police Department in October 1997. Harrison attended and completed the Chesapeake Police Academy. Throughout his career, he has served in the operations, investigations and administration divisions. Harrison has served as a crime scene investigations officer, a field training officer, the department background investigator, the special investigations sergeant, and was the first commander assigned to the newly formed UAS (Drone) Unit. He has attended various law enforcement schools, including the FBI Law Enforcement Supervisor’s Training, the West Point Leadership School and the Professional Executive Leadership School.

Capt. Lance Callis

Callis attended the HRCJTA in 1993 and was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in July 1994. In 1997, Callis was transferred from Uniform Patrol to the Detective Bureau, where he spent two years. Between 1997 and 2004, Callis achieved several certifications to include Federal Motor Carrier Inspector, FTO, Crime Scene Search Officer, General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Fatal Investigator, and SWAT team member, where he served until 2017. In 2004, Callis was promoted to the rank of master police officer. In May 2004, he graduated from Canine School. As an MPO, Callis served as a canine handler and as the canine supervisor until his assigned canine retired in 2010. Callis was promoted to the rank of sergeant in December of 2004. As a sergeant, Callis spent several years in Uniform Patrol followed by an extended period of time in Special Operations. In February 2017, Callis was transferred to the Special Investigations Unit. In November 2017, Callis was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. After a short stint in Uniform Patrol, Callis returned to the Special Investigations Section. He has been named Officer of the Year, Supervisor of the Year twice, and has received the Community Service Award and the Lifesaving Award. In 2013, Callis received the Medal of Valor while responding to an active shooter.

Lt. Chad Hooker

Prior to becoming a Suffolk Police Officer, Hooker attended and graduated from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, where he obtained a degree in administration of justice. Looking to begin a career in law enforcement, Hooker applied to and was hired as a Suffolk Police Officer in 2010. He attended and completed the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. In 2012, he was transferred from Uniform Patrol to the Neighborhood Enforcement Team and began serving as a member of the SWAT team. He was promoted in 2015 to the rank of sergeant, where he served in Uniform Patrol, Special Operations, and most recently the Professional Standards Division as the training sergeant. In July 2019, he received his master’s degree in organizational leadership from Columbia Southern University.

Lt. Gary Myrick

Myrick started his law enforcement career as a Suffolk Police Explorer, a Boy Scouts of America Cadet-like program in 1991. Myrick was hired with Suffolk Police Department in October 1997, and he attended the Chesapeake Police Academy’s 38^th Session. In March 2002, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective and remained there for nine years. He was promoted in November 2011 to the rank of sergeant and briefly served as a patrol supervisor before returning to the Investigations Division as a sergeant in the Detective Division and a sergeant of the Surveillance Operations Team. Myrick has attained certifications as a Law Enforcement General Instructor, Bicycle Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Evidence Collection Technician, Alcohol Enforcement Specialist, and Cold Case Homicide Investigator. During his career he has received numerous departmental commendations and two Police Officer of the Year awards.

Sgt. Jonathon Bulls

Sgt. Jonathan Bulls was hired on Sept. 18, 2006. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy in March 2007. He was assigned to Precinct 1 Uniform Patrol, where he would spend time assigned to all three squads. In April 2010, he received his certification in Crash Reconstruction and became one of the Suffolk Police Department’s fatal crash investigators. He continued to further his training, earning certifications in various areas related to crash investigation and reconstruction, ultimately working his way to becoming a senior crash investigator. In November 2012, he was certified as a field training officer and subsequently took part in the training and certification of more than 40 Suffolk Police Officers to date. In January 2016, he received the title of Senior Police Officer. During his time with the department, he has received several commendations and noteworthy performance awards, including a Lifesaving Award in 2018. In 2019, Sergeant Bulls also became the first officer to be awarded Field Training Officer of the Year.

Sgt. Matthew Faubion

Faubion was hired by the Suffolk Police Department on May 16, 2011. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. Following his graduation, he was assigned to Uniform Patrol until Sept. 15, 2014, when he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division. During his assignment to the Detective Bureau, he was assigned to the Economic Crimes Section. He was previously an evidence technician and a technician on the Command Bus. He is a firearms instructor and a Taser instructor. Faubion has been awarded Officer of the Quarter and two Departmental Commendations.

Sgt. Nicholas Gasparini

Gasparini was hired on Dec. 1, 2009. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Academy in April 2010. He was then transferred to Uniform Patrol, where he served on several squads at both Sector 1 and Sector 2. In February 2013, he was transferred to the Neighborhood Enforcement Team. In October 2017, he was transferred to the Special Investigations Unit. Gasparini is a member of the SWAT team and currently serves as a team leader. During Gasparini’s time with the department, he has accrued several commendations and noteworthy performances.

Sgt. Brian Hearn

Hearn was hired by the Suffolk Police Department on March 1, 2007. He attended and completed the basic Police Academy and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division following his release from field training. He was transferred to the Fugitive Unit in August 2010 and worked there until September 2013, when he was transferred back to Uniform Patrol. He operated as a Field Training Officer while in Patrol until his transfer to the Criminal Investigations Unit in February of 2018. He was assigned to Violent Crimes during his time in Criminal Investigations. In addition to his regular duties, Hearn has held numerous ancillary duties to include the SWAT team, Motorcycle Unit, and the Surveillance Unit. He is a General Instructor, Driving Instructor, ASP Instructor, and has taught various other classes to members of the department. During his career, Hearn has earned numerous departmental awards to include 15 commendations and the Lifesaving Award.

Sgt. Hector Rosario

Rosario was hired with the Suffolk Police Department in April 2011. He attended and completed the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. He was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. During his tenure in the Uniform Patrol Division, he had assignments on both the evening shift and midnight shift in Sector I. He obtained numerous qualifications during his time in Uniform Patrol, to include being an Evidence Technician. Rosario was also a Field Training Officer.

Sgt. Sean Rowan

Rowan was hired with the Suffolk Police Department in September 2014. After attending and completing the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy and completing his field training, he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. After serving a couple of years in the Uniform Patrol Division, in December of 2016, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division, where he was assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit. He served as an Economic Crimes Detective until his promotion. During his tenure, Rowan has received a number of certifications, received a number of noteworthy performance awards, has served on the Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Team, is a CIT Instructor, and serves as one of the department’s LGBTQ Liaison Officers.

MPO Marcus Carter

Carter served in the U.S. Navy from 1987 until 2007. He was hired by the Suffolk Police Department after being honorably discharged from the Navy in June 2007. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Academy. During Carter’s career, he has served in the Uniform Patrol Division and as a School Resource Officer. He has attended numerous schools and training events during his police career to include School Resource Officer training, CIT training and CSI Evidence Collection training. MPO Carter has received numerous departmental commendations and letters of appreciation during his career.

MPO John Crombie

Crombie was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in December 2009. He graduated from HRCJTA on April 2010. From 2010 to 2016, he served in the Uniform Patrol Division. In January 2016, he was promoted to Police Officer III, where he continued to serve in the Uniform Patrol Division until May 2016. During his tenure in Uniform Patrol, he obtained numerous certifications to include Radar/Lidar operator, crime scene evidence technician, Breathalyzer/Intoxilyzer operator, a Field Training Officer, and CIT Officer. He has been a member of the Underwater Recovery Team, Basic and Advanced Fatal Crash Investigation team, Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector Parts A and B, a licensed drone operator, and a team member of the Mobile Field Force Team. In May 2016, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division, where he currently serves.

MPO Benjamin Delugo

Delugo was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in December of 2009. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Academy in April 2010. Upon graduation and completion of his training, he was assigned to Uniform Patrol, where he served on several squads. In 2016, he gained the rank of Senior Police Officer. During his tenure with the Suffolk Police Department, he has accrued several certifications, including Field Training Officer, Traffic Fatality Investigator, Advanced Fatality Investigator, and Motor Operator.

MPO Nichole Heyward

Before joining the Suffolk Police Department, Heyward served in the U.S. Navy from April 6, 1999 to Sept. 20, 2008. She served on active duty for nine years and eight months, receiving an honorable discharge. She is currently serving in the U.S. Navy Reserves. While serving in the military, Heyward has earned various military awards and commendations. She has been with the Suffolk Police Department for nearly 11 years. While serving the Suffolk Police Department, Heyward has continued her education earning her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, and is currently completing her Master of Arts in public administration. Heyward began her law enforcement career in Uniform Patrol but has spent the past eight years assigned to the Special Operations Division as a Certified School Resource Officer. As a patrol officer, she attended various schools such as SRO School, General Instructor training, and as a Crisis Intervention Team member. She is a member of the Police Honor Guard.

MPO Steven Ireland

Ireland was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in March 2009. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. Following his training, he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division to Sector I B Squad, where he remained until the department shifted to yearly shifts. Ireland received training and certifications in several areas, to include evidence collection, radar, LIDAR, General Instructor Certification, DT Instructor, and also as a fatality investigator. In February 2018, he was transferred from the Uniform Patrol Division to the Detective Bureau, where he is currently assigned as the Sector 2 detective.

MPO Cliff Sessoms

Sessoms was hired by the Suffolk Police Department in November 2009. He attended and graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy. For a majority of his career, MPO Sessoms has been assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. During his time in Uniform Patrol, he attended numerous trainings and schools, such as the Standard Field Sobriety Test Instructor course, Field Training Officer School, General Instructor School, Taser Instructor School, and in 2017, MPO Sessoms was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert, and in 2019 became a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor. Sessoms has been instrumental in assisting with department DUI investigations, and also the successful prosecution of them. He is currently assigned to the traffic unit, where he has been since 2016. Sessoms led the Hampton Roads area in DUI arrests in 2018, and it is looking as if he will do so again for 2019.

Communications Lead Operator Rachel Gayle — Communications Supervisor Communications Gayle began her interest with the Suffolk Police Department by joining the Explorer Program in 1991. She was hired as a communications operator in December 1993. Gayle completed the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy Basic Dispatch Course. She has completed numerous training and certification courses during her tenure. Gayle spent many years as a Certified Training Officer, training new dispatchers. She was promoted to communications lead operator on Sept. 1, 2019. Gayle currently has eight dispatchers assigned under her leadership.