NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle Police Department held a promotions’ ceremony this morning at New Rochelle City Hall.
Commissioner Robert Gazzola and Deputy Commissioner Cosmo Costa were joined by Mayor Noam Bramson, City Manager Chuck Strome, staff and families as they recognized the promotees.
Promoted to Captain
Lt. Raul Rodriguez
Lt. Neil Reynolds
Promoted to Lieutenant
Det. Sgt. Robert Torr
Sgt. Melvin Molina
Promoted to Sergeant
Det. Matthew Glass
P.O. Patrick J. Lunn
Captain Neil K. Reynolds, presently assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit, has been a member of the New Rochelle Police Department since September 11, 1994. After working in the Patrol Division, he was assigned to the Police and Community Together (P.A.C.T.) unit, and then the Property Theft Unit. While in the P.A.C.T. Unit, he was a certified D.A.R.E. officer in elementary schools and also a bicycle officer. He was promoted to Detective in 1998, Sergeant in 2007, Lieutenant in 2014 and Detective Lieutenant in 2020. Reynolds has completed the New York City Police Department Internal Affairs Investigators course, Auto Crime School, and Emergency Services Unit (ESU) Training. He has also received the Trilogy Award from the FBI — Law Enforcement Executive Development Association for receiving certificates in Supervisor, Command and Executive Leadership. He also completed the FBI — LEEDA Internal Affairs Investigators course, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He has received seven (7) Commendations, three (3) Class “C” Citations, two (2) Life Saving awards, 2 Police Officer of the Month awards, and one (1) NRPD Problem Solver of the Year Award. He is also a recipient of the NAACP — New Rochelle Branch — Public Service Award. He is a member of the Omega Si phi fraternity incorporated — Omicron Ioda chapter, NOBLE — National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the Westchester Rockland Guardians Association. He is also a member of the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Iona College as well as a Juris Doctorate from Pace University Law School. He is licensed to practice law in New York State and the United States Federal Court Southern District of New York.
Captain Raul Rodriguez was appointed to the Department in August 1999. During his career, he has worked in Patrol and the Police and Community Together Unit. He was promoted to Detective in 2006, and while a detective he worked in the Special Investigations Unit. In 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he worked in Patrol and then the Police Harbor Unit. In 2013, Raul was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned as the Assistant Tour Commander on the Third Tour. In 2016, he was then assigned to the Police Services Division Commander’s Office as the Executive Officer, where he served until his promotion today. He has received specialized training in numerous topics, including Street Crimes, Critical Incidents, Marine Law and Navigation and Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents, and many other subjects. He was a Field Training Officer and is a certified instructor in several subjects, including Defensive Tactics and Tactical Baton. He has been awarded the Police Commissioners Award, 5 Class C Citations, 3 Commendation Awards, the Housing Authority Award in 2007 and the Journal News Award (First Class). He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from SUNY Empire State College.
Lieutenant Melvin Molina was appointed to the Department in April of 2008. After his appointment to the New Rochelle Police Department, Melvin was assigned to the Police Services Division as a Sector Officer. He was promoted to Sergeant in June 2018, and since then, has worked as a Supervisor on the First Tour as well as in the Critical Incident Unit. He has received specialized training in numerous classifications, including Weapons of Mass Destruction Response, SWAT, SCUBA Diver as well as certifications in Command and Executive Leadership from the FBI Law enforcement Executive Development Association. He is the recipient of one Class C Citation, three Commendation Awards, the Lifesaver of the Year Award in 2012, and has been recognized as Police Officer of the Month on three occasions. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Behavioral Science from Mercy College.
Lieutenant Robert Torr has a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies from John Jay College, and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Iona College. He was appointed to the New Rochelle Police Department in August 1997, and was assigned to the Police Services Division. During his early career, he worked on the First Tour, the Police and Community Together Unit, the Forensic Unit and the Property Theft Unit. He was promoted to Detective in 2004, and to Sergeant in 2009. As a supervisor, he worked on the Third Tour in Patrol until he was assigned as the head of the Forensics Unit, an assignment he held with distinction until his promotion today. In his role as the head of Forensics, he helped investigate countless crimes, up to and including numerous homicides. He holds numerous special certifications, which are far too numerous to mention here. His Departmental Awards are similarly impressive, having received: The Police Commissioners Award. 2 Class C Citations, 4 Unit Citations, One Commendation Award, Four times the Department’s Police Officer of the Month, Police Officer of the Year in 2002, the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Safety Award for academic achievement in Forensic Investigations.
Police Sergeant Patrick Lunn has a Master’s Degree as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Iona College. He was appointed to the New Rochelle Police Department in July 2013 after having worked as a Small Business Specialist at JP Morgan Chase. Pat was assigned to the Police Services Division, where he worked all three tours over the course of several years. He was eventually assigned to the Critical Incident Unit’s B Team as a SWAT Operator, where he remained until his promotion today. He has received specialized training in Crisis Intervention, SWAT Tactics, Radar and LIDAR Speed Enforcement, New York State Counter Terrorism and has been certified by New York State as a Field Training Officer as well as a Breath Analysis Operator. He is the recipient of one Commendation Award, one Life Saver Award, was Police Officer of the Month one time, and was the Life Saver of the Year in 2017.
Police Sergeant Matthew Glass has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mercy College. He was appointed to the New Rochelle Police Department in January 2006 and was assigned to the Police Services Division, where he worked on the Third Tour and became the Officer assigned to Sector 4. He was then assigned to the Critical Incident Unit as one of the department’s K9 Operators. He worked with his loyal K9 partner Valor for many years. Valor retired in 2019, and passed away shortly thereafter. After CIU, Matt was one of the First Officers selected to become a member of the newly formed Discovery Compliance Unit in 2020. Shortly thereafter, he was selected to join the Special Investigations Unit, where he helped investigate operations involving narcotics, Vice violations as well as NYS Liquor Law compliance in our city. He has received specialized training in Canine Patrol, Explosive Detection, Crisis Intervention, and SWAT Tactics. He is the recipient of the Police Commissioners Award, one Class C Citation, 5 Commendation Awards and 5 Life Saving Awards.
