By: Caitlin V. Reidy
Sterling’s finest are rolling into 2023 by recognizing recent promotions and new assignments within their department.
Chief Sean Gaudette, who was sworn in as Sterling’s Police Chief in mid-2022, stated that he’s “proud of these officers and what they have accomplished, and [he] looks forward to seeing them grow into their new roles.”
In the past few months, there’s been a lot of movement within the SPD. Chief Gaudette praised the following officers for their recent accomplishments on the force:
1. Detective Ryan Ferguson, recently promoted to Sergeant
2. Sergeant Steven Fugere, recently promoted to Lieutenant
3. Officer Tim Plouffe, recently promoted to Sergeant
4. Officer John Chase, recently assigned to Detective
Detective Ryan Ferguson has been a police officer for the past 15 years, and has served his entire tenure in the town of Sterling. He said that one of his favorite aspects of the job is the “comradery within the department,” and that every day brings its own set of challenges. The detective further stated that “every wave, smile and handshake is meaningful to us [police officers], and if you see us in public please don’t hesitate to say ‘hello.’”
Lieutenant Steven Fugere has been a police officer for 17 years, and has also been a member of Sterling’s finest for the entirety of his career. He said that his favorite part of his career is “interacting with the community.” Lt. Fugere further stated that the most difficult aspect of the job is when community members are at their “worst.”
“It could be the death of a family member, car crash, domestic situations, or when things have gotten so out of control in their life that they needed the police to help ‘fix’ their situation,” Lt. Fugere stated. “This comes with a lot of strong emotions. Remembering that this situation will be a memorable and impactful time for them, means that you [police officers] always need to give your [their] best.”
Lt. Fugere also stated that though policing is a challenging job and he received “rigorous” training from the police academy, nothing could prepare him for a Sterling citizen named Bill. One day, Lt. Fugere received a call that Bill, a large, highland cow, had escaped his fence.
“I did everything I could to try and coax this animal back into its fence and it would just look at me and grunt,” Lt. Fugere stated. He said that he was later told that he discovered all that needed to be done was to call the bad-to-the-bone bovine’s name and he would “come running like a dog.” He further stated that he discovered that “a rigorous six-month-long police academy did not properly prepare [him] for a cow named Bill.”
Sergeant Tim Plouffe has served in law enforcement for 21 years and like his colleagues, has committed his career to the town of Sterling. He said that he loves the “community policing aspect,” especially when it comes to working with children. “We can make a kids day sometimes, simply by saying ‘hi’ and handing them a sticker badge. It doesn’t get any better than that!” Sergeant Plouffe conveyed.
Detective John Chase has been a police officer for nearly 20 years, two of which have been served in Sterling. In November 2022, Detective Chase was assigned to the Detective Unit. A graduate of Anna Maria College, and with experience in law enforcement in Tisbury and Princeton, Detective Chase stated that his favorite part about working in Sterling is “the camaraderie of the Police Department and the ability to help and give back to the community and citizens of Sterling.” He further said that the most difficult aspect of the job is “overcoming all the negative perceptions spotlighted on the police industry, while trying to be a positive influence in the community.”
Though there has been negative media coverage and added societal stressors in relation to law enforcement during the past several years, Detective Chase “humbly” recalls a story of when an elderly resident was locked out of her home, while her cat, Lucky, was trapped inside.
“When we arrived with the Sterling Fire Department, we were able to gain access to her residence and reunited her with Lucky. She was so thankful for our quick response that she baked three sheets of cookies for our Department. The resident wanted us to know that there are many people in the town of Sterling that appreciate our efforts as a Police Department, and for keeping them safe,” Detective Chase recalled.
Undoubtedly a difficult job, the role of police officers has become more challenging in the last several years as they face negative perceptions and attitudes from society. However, these four Sterling officers and Chief Gaudette were all quick to praise the residents of Sterling, their town administrators, and the public for the support they receive in this small, community town.
“The Sterling Police Department is full of good people, officers, dispatchers, and civilians alike who work hard for the town- day in and day out,” Chief Gaudette stated. He further stated that he’s proud to serve Sterling as Chief of Police and he’s “grateful to work in a community where the town’s administration and townspeople overwhelmingly support the Sterling Police Department’s mission.”