Chief Parkins appeared before the Select Board on Monday, Feb. 24, to recommend the promotion of Officer Emily Ann Mello to sergeant in the Lakeville Police Department. The board voted to appoint Mello to the rank of sergeant with a probationary period through Feb. 4, 2026 and a term to expire July 31, 2028, aligning her term with the town’s annual police appointment schedule.

Chief Parkins told the board Mello has 17 years of law enforcement experience, including 13 years with the Town of Lakeville, and had served as acting sergeant in 2020 when a sergeant was out for injury. Parkins said Mello serves as a liaison to the senior population, works with the Council on Aging, participates on a regional critical incident stress management team and serves as a peer support person for officers across Southeastern Massachusetts. The chief told the board Mello had passed required promotional examinations and the assessment center and is currently at the top of the candidates list.

The board moved and seconded the appointment and voted by roll call. Select board members praised Mello’s work with seniors and her community presence; several members described the promotion as “well‑deserved.” Following the vote, Mello’s mother Luisa pinned her badge and a family member administered the oath of office.

Ending
The promotion fills the department’s remaining sergeant vacancy, completing a staffing cycle the department has been addressing through recruitment and promotional actions.