For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 20, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Bedford Police Announce Promotion, New Assignments

BEDFORD — Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to announce a promotion and new assignments for three members of the Bedford Police Department.

Craig Naylor was promoted from the rank of Officer to Sergeant; Sgt. Rich Vitale was assigned as the new Detective Sergeant; and Officer Jeffrey French was assigned as the new Campus Resource Officer at Middlesex Community College.

“Sgt. Naylor, Detective Sgt. Vitale and Officer French each have extensive experience with the Bedford Police Department that will serve them well in their new positions,” Town Manager Sarah Stanton said. “The community is fortunate for their distinguished service to the department. I wish them all the best in this next step of their respective careers.”

Sgt. Craig Naylor

Sgt. Naylor has been a police officer with the Bedford Police Department for 20 years, during which he spent five years as a detective and police prosecutor representing Bedford Police in the Middlesex County court system.

In his previous assignment as the Campus Safety Officer assigned to Middlesex Community College, Sgt. Naylor was instrumental in forming partnerships and fostering a strong community relationship with the dual campus institution.

Through his work at MCC, Sgt. Naylor has trained over 1,500 civilians in response to active shooter training and holds certificates in many police functions.

Sgt. Naylor will join the sergeant ranks and will be responsible for patrol shift supervision.

Detective Sgt. Rich Vitale

Detective Sgt. Vitale joined Bedford Police in March 2000 as a patrol officer.

Since 2006, Detective Sgt. Vitale has served as one of the department’s force instructors for firearms, defensive tactics, less lethal munitions and Taser.

From 2003-2004, he was assigned on a part-time basis to the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force. In 2012, he was assigned as a detective/prosecutor and in 2013 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Detective Sgt. Vitale has also received multiple departmental commendations in his time with the Bedford Police Department.

Officer Jeffrey French

Officer French has been an officer with Bedford Police Department for 20 years.

He has been a field training officer for 15 years, a member of the Community Services Unit for over 10 years and the department’s public information officer for the past three years.

“The unique Campus Resource Officer partnership that Middlesex Community College shares with the Bedford Police Department has yielded incredibly beneficial rewards for our campus,” said MCC Executive Director of Public Affairs Patrick Cook. “Officer Naylor was able to weave himself into the fabric of the college campus as a valuable resource for our students, staff and faculty, and I have no doubt Officer French will continue that synergy. Bringing a patrol officer into the mix of a college campus has yielded positive interactions, and provides our population access to a wealth of law enforcement resources at the same time. We’re sorry to see Sgt. Naylor go, but wish him well in his new leadership role and look forward to having Jeff join our MCC community.”

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