The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Police officers move up the ranks
Three Lorain police officers are moving up the ranks, and they were recently introduced to city council.
Three Lorain police officers are moving up the ranks in the department.
On Nov. 2, Lorain police Chief James McCann introduced the officers at the Lorain City Council meeting.
“Today, we’re here to promote three fine officers of the Lorain Police Department,” the chief said.
McCann said his goal is to have the ceremonies at Council so the members can see who is advancing in case they need to deal with them in the future.
Lt. Les Palmer joins the police command staff with the new rank of captain; Sgt. A. J. Mathewson was promoted to lieutenant; and Officer Mark Tomlin was promoted to sergeant.
The three were joined by family members and friends as Mayor Jack Bradley administered the oath of office.
Palmer joined the Police Department in 1997; he became a sergeant in 2009 and promoted to lieutenant in 2012.
He has worked in the narcotics bureau, was a field training supervisor, worked in the office of professional standards and was a firearms instructor and shift commander.
Bradley said Palmer was present when he was giving blood and Palmer saw him nearly faint.
“You didn’t have to help me out, did you?” Bradley said.
“You don’t remember that part?” Palmer said, prompting chuckles from the crowd.
Palmer was surrounded by family and some fellow police captains were in the audience for support.
Bradley said the moment was a proud one for the city of Lorain.
Council President Joel Arredondo noted when he was elected, Palmer was in the audience for his first two Council meetings.
Palmer stopped attending and later told Arredondo that he did not need Palmer to be there because he had the meetings under control.
Matthewson became a Lorain police officer in 1999 and was promoted to sergeant in 2013.
He has served as a SWAT team supervisor, narcotics unit officer, training officer, honor guard member, and task force officer with the FBI and U.S. Marshals.
Matthewson was joined by his three daughters.
Bradley said they should be proud of their father.
“I’m proud of him, too, because when I was giving blood, he was next to me and I almost fainted, but I saw how brave he was and I thought, I better not faint,” the mayor said, prompting chuckles from the crowd. “We have some brave officers in the Lorain Police Department. Certainly A.J. Matthewson is one of them.”
Tomlin joined the force in 1998 and has served as a firearms instructor, department armorer, field training officer, dive team member and marine patrol officer.
He was joined by family members including his son, who pinned on his father’s badge.
“You should all be very proud of Officer Tomlin today, because it is quite an honor to be made a sergeant of what I consider the best police department in the state of Ohio,” Bradley said. “The City Council feels the same way.”