Deputy Chief Doug Sturniolo takes the oath of office administered by Acton Town Clerk Eva Szkaradek on Wednesday. (Courtesy Acton Police Department) 
Deputy Chief Doug Sturniolo has his badge pinned to his uniform by his wife. (Courtesy Acton Police Department) 
Deputy Chief Doug Sturniolo thanked Chief James Cogan, Town Manager John Mangiaratti, and all those who work for the Department and Town of Acton in a speech following his swearing-in. (Courtesy Acton Police Department) 
Deputy Chief Doug Sturniolo and Chief James Cogan stand together outside the police station. (Courtesy Acton Police Department)
ACTON — Chief James Cogan is pleased to announce that Doug Sturniolo, a 23-year veteran of the Acton Police Department, was sworn in Wednesday as Deputy Chief.
Deputy Chief Sturniolo began his career with Acton Police in 2000, and served as a Patrol Officer for 12 years before being promoted to Sergeant. As Sergeant, Sturniolo worked as a patrol supervisor for two years, and also served as a field training supervisor and Domestic Violence Services Network liaison.
Deputy Chief Sturniolo was promoted to Lieutenant in 2014, and served as a Patrol Division Commander.
In 2017, Sturniolo was assigned to the Special Services Division as a Detective Lieutenant overseeing Criminal Investigations, Court Prosecution, Property and Evidence Control, Youth and Family Services, the Traffic Unit, Community Relations, Dispatch Communications, and Accreditation.
As a Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission Assessor and Accreditation Manager, Deputy Chief Sturniolo led the Acton Police Department Accreditation Team to obtain MPAC certification in 2019 and full accreditation in 2021.
Deputy 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.
Deputy 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.
“It is truly an honor for me to serve as the Deputy Chief, and I could not be more proud to do so with the amazing team we have here,” said Deputy Chief Sturniolo. “To the members of this Department: You all treat everybody with respect, you’re fair, you’re caring and compassionate, and you’re all the things that I look for in people. I think that’s what makes this Department so great.”
Deputy Chief Sturniolo said he will focus on promoting officer health and wellness, on increasing staffing levels, and on increasing training opportunities so the Department can provide the highest possible level of community service.
“Doug is an excellent and committed leader who I have worked with closely for more than two decades, and I am extremely confident that he will set a great example as Deputy Chief,” said Chief Cogan.
“Doug Sturniolo has been a leader within our police department, and I am confident he will continue to excel in his new role as Deputy Chief,” said Town Manager John Mangiaratti. “I look forward to working with Deputy Sturniolo and Chief Cogan to uphold our commitment to delivering professional, responsive, and compassionate law enforcement services to the community.”