'A Historic Moment'
HCC PD recognizes five officers at pinning event
About 10 years ago, when she was promoted from campus police officer to sergeant, Jacqueline Robles remembers her boss basically sliding her new badge across a table to confer her new status.
“I had taken an exam,” she said, “went through the interview process, and then, after it was announced that I got the promotion, I came into work the next day and the chief said, ‘Ok, go get your uniforms, you’re all set. I thought, ‘Thank you?’”
Now, as HCC’s new police chief, one of the changes Robles has implemented is to have more formal pinning ceremonies to celebrate the promotion of offices in the department.
“Because of that particular experience, I want to be able to acknowledge the officers and give them pats on the back for all the hard work I know they do,” Robles said.
HCC held its first Campus Police promotion ceremony on Monday, Aug. 18, recognizing four officers who received promotions and one who was newly hired.
“When I started here at Holyoke Community College, 22 years ago, I never would have guessed that I would be standing here, nor did I imagine I’d become chief,” said Robles, who was sworn in as chief in May. “But as time went by, I fell in love with my job. I fell in love with helping and understanding people, and I fell in love with the college community. It was the students, faculty, and staff who taught me to be the police officer and chief I am today, and I want my officers to experience that as well.”
At the ceremony, Campus Police Officer Ruben Roberto, of Springfield, was promoted to sergeant; Police officer Robert Clare, of Holyoke, was promoted to corporal; Antonio Mazza, of Chicopee, was promoted from institutional security officer to campus police officer trainee, as was Jiovanny Montanez-Moret, a Holyoke resident and 2023 graduate of HCC’s criminal justice program. Recently hired campus police officer Sarah Paley, of South Hadley, was also recognized.
After taking the police officer’s oath, the five officers received new badges and certificates.
“Looking ahead, my priority as sergeant is to fully immerse myself in our campus community and to ensure that everyone feels safe, respected and heard,” Roberto said in a speech. “I’ll be actively seeking out opportunities to listen and learn. My goal is to foster genuine connections. Campus safety is a shared responsibility.”
Marlowe Washington, vice president of the division of People, Culture, and Equity, who oversees the campus police department, said the promotion ceremony was just one of several new initiatives underway since Robles was named chief.
“This is truly a historic moment for us,” he said. “I am really proud of the work she’s doing, the commitment, and the new kind of spirit she’s bringing in.”
Other new initiatives in the works as the department transforms to a community policing model, he said, are bike patrols and a comfort dog program.
PHOTOS: (Above) Holyoke Police Chief Jacqueline Robles administers the police officer's oath to five officers who were recognized at HCC's first police pinning event. (Thumbnail) Campus Police Officer Trainee Anthony Mazza receives his badge.
