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Chelsea Council swears in three new police officers, highlights family ties and recruitment gains
Summary
The Chelsea City Council held a swearing-in ceremony for three new Chelsea Police Department officers — Sergeant Ferrazzo, Officer Samantha Claudio and Officer Manuel Vargas — with councilors and Chief Holden praising recruits and noting growing local recruitment and female representation.
Chelsea City Council formally swore in three new members of the Chelsea Police Department at a council ceremony that included remarks from councilors, the city manager and Chief Holden.
Councilor Kelly Garcia, addressing the chamber, welcomed the new officers and their families and said the women being sworn in were “breaking the glass ceiling” for young women in the community. “We welcome you to the Chelsea Police Department,” she said.
Chief Holden told the council he has overseen 25 to 30 officers sworn in during his roughly three-and-a-half-year tenure and described the department as a family, noting multiple instances of relatives serving together. “We are all family, bringing family back together,” he said. He introduced Sergeant Ferrazzo and three recently graduated recruits who completed the academy on Nov. 18 before administering the oath.
Officer Samantha Claudio, a graduate of Everett High School and married to a Chelsea firefighter, was sworn in first; her husband pinned her badge. Chief Holden praised her academy performance and perseverance. Manuel Vargas was sworn in next; Chief Holden noted Vargas’s long journey to the department and family ties, with Detective Giberto Vargas and other relatives pinning his badge. Camila Vega, who previously worked in license inspections, also took the oath and received her badge during the ceremony.
Councilor Brown praised the new officers’ willingness to take on difficult work and told them they will be looked up to as community leaders. The ceremony emphasized local recruitment: Chief Holden said the department’s recent recruits are Chelsea residents and that several more are scheduled to enter the academy in February.
The council paused briefly for photos after the oath-taking and then adjourned. No motions, votes, or policy decisions were taken during the ceremony.
