Police department fills two positions

M.E. Jones / Nashoba Valley Voice
A proud moment for the Romilly family as Robert Romilly gets his sergeant''s bars from his wife, Jennifer.
M.E Jones / Nashoba Valley Voice
Benjamin Lima is made a permanent officer by his mother, Patti Nichols Lima.

PUBLISHED: August 2, 2019 at 12:05 p.m. | UPDATED: August 6, 2019 at 4:54 a.m.

SHIRLEY — With family, friends and uniformed fellow police officers in attendance at the selectmen’s meeting last week, Police Chief Samuel Santiago introduced his picks for two positions.

The board appointed both, as requested.

Robert Romilly was appointed sergeant and Benjamin Lima, formerly a reserve officer, was promoted to a full time police officer’s position.

Filling in some background as he thanked the board, Santiago said Romilly aced the sergeant’s exam in April, with three candidates vying for the job.

“He scored highest” by far, he said.

The chief also cited the new sergeant’s 20 years of experience in the field, including as a detective with another police department.

Romilly holds three academic degrees, including a master’s, and has stacked up an array of credentials, including “numerous training” certifications, most recently in front line leadership, as required for his new assignment.

Lima was a reserve officer and now joins the department full time.

Both men will be “great department assets,” Santiago said.