After 26 Years, a Promotion to Sergeant in a Family Profession

Surprise parties are common on birthdays. Surprise promotions, not as much.

After learning he would be promoted to sergeant, Milford police officer Michael Pasacane asked if the swearing-in ceremony could be scheduled around a particular date: March 3.

That afternoon, his mother, Cathy, walked into the police chief's office expecting to pick up a present for her 71st birthday. And she did: as soon as she entered, Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin started reading the oath to Pasacane, 51.

Photos taken that day show both Pasacanes tearing up.

After 30 years as a police officer, serving in two departments and in a variety of shifts and roles, Pasacane is proud to become a sergeant, a supervisory position in which he oversees several officers. He'll be working the overnight shift, midnight to 8 a.m.

Pasacane followed his late father, James Pasacane, into the profession. "Growing up, looking up to him, it was something I hoped to do." At 21, three years out of Milford High School, he started in Mendon as a part-time officer. In those early years, Milford and Mendon shared a radio frequency, and Pasacane said he would often hear his father responding to calls in Milford.

Four years later, he had an opportunity to join the Milford department, and pursued work in the larger town, which would have more opportunities for advancement. As it turned out, the rise to sergeant would take 26 years.

Part of that was timing — the department promoted a large class of sergeants a few years after he was hired — and part was design. While he worked days as an officer, Pasacane went to night school and obtained a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree, both through Western New England College.

As an officer, he took on various tasks and assigned responsibilities, including as the training officer for the baton, as the procurement officer for uniforms and other supplies, as the fleet maintenance officer, and as the gun licensing officer.

Deputy Police Chief James Heron, who's worked since the mid-80s with Pasacane, said he's always been conscientious and detail oriented. Because of his experience, he was able to take on additional assignments. "He just, over the years, was able to take on more and more assignments," Heron said. "He's done an excellent job for us in that capacity." 

Now, as a sergeant, he's still learning as he goes, Pasacane said, and enjoying it.

"Every day I'm picking up something new. I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I'm proud to be here and I'm happy to do this job."