DEDICATION REWARDED: Acton Police Swear-In Five New Supervisors Before Packed House at Town Hall

ACTON — The Town Hall parking lot overflowed Tuesday night as family, friends, firefighters, colleagues and community members gathered to recognize five experienced leaders who were promoted to supervisory positions in the Acton Police Department. 

Chief Douglas Sturniolo opened the ceremony by remembering that Acton Police responded last month to two terrible tragedies that shook the community and called for officers to respond with both professionalism and compassion.

“I could not be more proud of the men and women of this department, and of the team we are assembling,” Chief Sturniolo said in comments echoed moments later by Town Manager John Mangiaratti. 

Ananya Balaji, a senior from Acton Boxborough Regional High School, sang the National Anthem. 

Chief Sturniolo introduced all five new supervisors and read brief biographies before Town Clerk Leo Mercado swore them in. Each supervisor then had his new badge pinned to his uniform by a family member. 

“I want to mention the families, said Town Manager John Mangiaratti. “Public safety is a job that requires a lot of sacrifices from first responders, but also from their families. I want to thank the families for contributing to the success of these individuals who serve our community.”

Promoted were:

Deputy Chief Christopher Hodges, who joined the department in 2016. His law enforcement career began in 2004 when he joined the Manchester Police Department in Connecticut, and rose to the rank of sergeant and acting lieutenant. 

In his time with Acton Police, Deputy Chief Hodges took on several major leadership roles within the department. He led the department’s Body-Worn Camera Program development, worked to get grant funding, and then spearheaded successful efforts to launch the program. He also established the Acton Public Safety Peer Support Team and worked with department administrators to modernize the scheduling system. 

He has worked in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Administrative Divisions of the department, and served as a supervisor in all three roles. Deputy Chief Hodges holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from UMass Amherst, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI-LEEDA Law Enforcement Executive Development Trilogy. 

Lt. David Joachim, who has been with the department since 2008. During his career, Lt. Joachim has served as a Narcotics Detective, Acting Sergeant, Sergeant, and most recently Acting Lieutenant and Patrol Division Commander. He has also overseen APD’s Field Training Program, managed state and federal grant initiatives, and supported several department and community programs.

Lt. Joachim is a U.S. Navy veteran, where he earned numerous honors and leadership awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. 

Lt. Joachim holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership from Anna Maria College. He is currently pursuing his Juris Doctor at Suffolk University Law School. Lt. Joachim has attended numerous specialized and leadership trainings, including the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy. 

Lt. Keith Campbell, who has been with the department since 1998, first served as a dispatcher before becoming an officer in 2000. 

Lt. Campbell spent more than 15 years as a School Resource Officer, where he helped strengthen partnerships between the department and Acton-Boxborough Public Schools, served as Chair of the School Safety Committee, and helped introduce Communities for Restorative Justice to APD. In recognition of his work with students and the school community, he was named the 2019 School Resource Officer of the Year by the Massachusetts School Resource Officers Association. 

Lt. Campbell holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell and has completed extensive specialized training in youth services, criminal investigations, and supervisory development, including the FBI-LEEDA Public Information Officer course. He has also coached several Acton-Boxborough sports teams, such as hockey, baseball and golf.

Sgt. Marc Symington, who has been with the department since 2015, previously worked with Framingham State University Police and Dennis Police. 

Sgt. Symington is the department’s Use of Force Instructor and Taser Instructor. He has served for many years as a Field Training Officer. He also played a key role on the Accreditation Team, earning the department’s first state certification status in 2019 and full accreditation award in 2021. While serving in the role of Patrol Officer, he was named the AAA Traffic Safety Officer of the Year in 2019 in recognition of his commitment to traffic safety.

Sgt. Symington holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Bridgewater State University. He has continued his professional development through several leadership programs, including completion of the First Line Supervisor course held at the Lynnfield Police Academy in 2025. 

Sgt. Kyle Monahan, who has been with the department since 2021. 

Sgt. Monahan regularly participates in community events, and he has taken an active role in mentoring and guiding newer officers as a Field Training Officer. 

Upon his graduation from the Randolph Police Academy in August of 2021, he was recognized with the Executive Officer’s Award, which is given to the recruit who achieves the highest combined score in academics, firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, physical fitness, and leadership. 

Sgt. Monahan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Security Studies from Franklin Pierce University. He has pursued extensive specialized training throughout his career including, Field Training Officer, Crisis Intervention, and Stress Resiliency. Sergeant Monahan also serves as a Physical Agility Test (PAT) Instructor for the department. In this role, he assists with fitness testing for prospective police officer candidates. 

In 2025, Sergeant Monahan was recognized as the AAA Traffic Safety Hero of the Year, reflecting his dedication to traffic safety and proactive enforcement and education within the community.

“A good leader knows how to rely on their team, and I could not have more confidence in these officers, their colleagues, and the team we are building here at the Acton Police Department,” said Chief Sturniolo. “Our community has experienced several critical incidents over the past few months, and I am so proud of Acton’s first responders who answered these calls with professionalism and compassion. Thank you for your service to our community.”