Jason Ryan was sworn in as Middletown’s new police chief Monday night, marking the first internal promotion to the department’s top position in more than four decades.
Ryan, a Middletown native, was welcomed as the town’s next police chief during a ceremony at Middletown Town Hall.
The promotion comes after Ryan served in nearly every position within the Middletown Police Department since joining the force in March 2005.
“Tonight is the first time in 40 some years, I think since around 1978ish, that there’s a promotion from within to the rank of police chief,” said Town Council President Paul Rodrigues at the ceremony, which took place during Middletown Town Council’s meeting.
He emphasized the importance of promoting from within, noting it “sends a message of retention, of caring, of hope and hey, maybe someday that could be me.”
Ryan’s career with Middletown Police includes roles as patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and most recently, deputy chief. He received numerous commendations and awards for excellent service throughout his tenure.
“These guys and ladies work all their careers for maybe a shot at a promotion,” Rodrigues said. “Not everyone’s going to be the chief, right, but not everybody’s going to be the deputy chief. But you know, there’s always that hope that there’s the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Ryan is a graduate of Stonehill College and the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. He also completed the Command Training Series for Executive Development at Roger Williams University and graduated from the 278th session of the FBI Academy National Academy.
Before joining the police force, Ryan worked as a middle school computer science teacher in Portsmouth.
“It’s a profound honor to stand before you as the newly appointed Chief of Police for Middletown,” Ryan said in his acceptance speech. “This achievement is a reflection of the support from many in our community.”
Ryan thanked his family for their support over his 20-year journey in law enforcement. He also expressed gratitude to the Town Council and administration for their trust and confidence.
“To the amazing men and women of the Middletown Police Department, I am proud to lead such a dedicated and professional group,” Ryan said. “I look forward to continuing to making the Middletown Police Department the best police department in the state of Rhode Island.”
The new chief resides in Middletown with his wife Dawn and their two children, William and Emily, who pinned on his badge during the ceremony.
Ryan’s promotion comes as Middletown seeks to fill another key public safety position. The town is currently accepting applications for a new fire chief, with a Dec. 24 deadline.
