ACTON — Chief Douglas Sturniolo swore an oath before family, friends and colleagues Tuesday to lead with integrity as the chief of the Acton Police Department.
Acton Police, Town Manager John Mangiaratti, members of the Select Board, family, friends, and retired Chief James Cogan gathered in the training room of the Public Safety Building as Deputy Town Manager Thomas Begin administered the oath.
Chief Sturniolo’s new badge was pinned to his uniform by his wife, Kelly.
Chief Sturniolo began his career with Acton Police in 2000 and served as a Patrol Officer for 12 years. He then worked as a patrol supervisor for two years. He served as a field training supervisor and Domestic Violence Services Network liaison.
He served as a Lieutenant and Detective Lieutenant from 2014 to 2023, serving as a Patrol Division commander, and overseeing criminal investigations, court prosecution, property and evidence control, youth and family services, the Traffic Unit, community relations, dispatch communications and accreditation.
As deputy chief, he oversaw daily operations, training, internal affairs, professional standards, and POST compliance. He also assisted with budget preparation and fiscal oversight.
As a Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission Assessor and Accreditation Manager, Chief Sturniolo and a dedicated department team led the agency’s commitment to operational excellence, ensuring the success of the accreditation process. Through this collective effort, the Acton Police Department secured initial certification in 2019, full accreditation in 2021, and successfully achieved reaccreditation in 2024.
Chief Sturniolo has a passion for health and wellness and is certified by the Massachusetts Police Training Council (MPTC) as the department’s Fitness & Agility Test Coordinator. He is also a member of the First Responder Wellness Working Group for the Town of Acton.
Chief Sturniolo holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College, and a certificate in Local Government Leadership Management from Suffolk University.
He has also attended numerous leadership trainings including the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy, MPI Executive Development, and the Police Chief Command Leadership Academy at Endicott College. He is a 2025 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy.
Town Manager Mangiaratti described Chief Sturniolo’s rise through the ranks and accomplishments.
“At each step, Doug demonstrated professionalism, integrity, a deep commitment to service, and a strong commitment to officer wellness,” said Town Manager Mangiaratti.
Chief Sturniolo thanked his wife Kelly and two sons, Anthony and Joey, for their support and sacrifice over the years. He thanked his mother and father — a retired Assistant Chief of the Newton Fire Department — and said the department’s staff and the eight Acton Police chiefs who came before him laid a strong foundation.
“It is my plan moving forward to strengthen that foundation, to work off of it, and to continue moving this department forward,” Chief Sturniolo said. “I want to modernize our police actions and what we’re doing — proactive policing — I want to strengthen our community partnerships and continue to gain trust from the community. I want to prioritize officer wellness, and I want to give the best training and support to our staff.”
Chief Sturniolo acknowledged the challenge and tremendous responsibility that comes with being police chief but said the men and women of the Acton Police Department made him eager to lead.
“It’s not me, it’s everybody that makes this work,” he said. “From the officers to the supervisors, to the dispatchers and the support staff and the town staff — I just can’t say enough about the people in this department and in this community.”
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