Chelsea Police recognize sergeant, swear in two officers during council meeting

Chelsea Police Chief addressed the City Council on personnel and promotions during a ceremonial portion of the meeting, recognizing Sergeant Fernando Camacho and swearing in two new officers, David Turinos and Joseph Cataldo.

The event mattered to the council and the community because the chief described recent staffing shortages and said the department is approaching full strength, with academy classes and transfers helping reduce vacancies that the chief said had been acute in his first year on the job.

Chelsea Police Chief, who did not give a personal name on the record, opened the ceremony by summarizing department staffing and then introduced honors and swearing-in rites. The chief said he had been in his job “for 2 years, 9 months” and that the department “lost 21 officers” during his first year. He described the current roster as nearly full, noting “we're only gonna be 2 or 3 down” as four officers are in the academy and another officer is expected within “the next two weeks.”

The chief recognized Sergeant Fernando Camacho in a pinning ceremony attended by his wife, Alyssa, and daughters Tanari, Sienna and Luciana. The chief noted Camacho’s military service and academic credentials, saying Camacho “served in the United States Marine Corps” and was “awarded the Purple Heart” and that he “has recently been awarded a master’s degree in criminal justice.” The chief also said Camacho previously worked in the patrol division and as a domestic violence detective and that he now serves as a midnight supervisor.

Two officers were sworn into the Chelsea Police Department. Officer David Turinos was introduced by the chief as a Chelsea native; the chief said Turinos graduated from the police academy in April 2025 and that his social-media announcement attracted community attention. The chief invited Turinos’s mother, Marina, and other family members to the dais for the pinning.

Officer Joseph Cataldo, described by the chief as a lateral hire from the Stoneham Police Department, was also sworn in. The chief said Cataldo had been a police officer since 2018, served on a North Shore tactical unit and the honor guard there, and holds an associate degree in criminal justice while working toward a bachelor’s degree. The chief asked Cataldo’s wife, Kristen, and their son, Michael, to pin his badge.

The chief used the ceremony to thank officers’ families for their support. “Our job is difficult,” he said, and he asked the room to applaud families who “have to make up the difference” when officers miss holidays and other family time.

No formal votes or policy actions were taken during the ceremony portion of the meeting; the event consisted of public recognition, pinning and oath administration.

The council paused afterward for photographs and to conclude the ceremonial portion of the meeting before moving on to the rest of the agenda.