BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Last week, Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor announced the promotions of 23 officers. She promoted one person to Major, one person was elevated to Captain, two people became Lieutenants, seven people were promoted to Sergeants, and 12 people were reported to the rank of Corporals or Detectives.

Five African Americans were among those promoted. They are: Eric Ward, Garfield Neal, Otis Calhoun, Kimberly Hill, and Kanyon Rodriguez.

Major Sophie Teague has retired from the Tampa Police Department. Captain Mike Baumaister will fill the vacancy of Major created by the retirement. He will be assigned as the Major of the Special Operations Division.

Newly promoted Captain Eric Ward has been assigned to District III.

Captain Ward has served as the department’s Specialty Teams Commander for the past 4 years. He has also been the recipient of the department’s Officer of the Month Award twice.

Sergeants Michael Flynn and Kimberly Plourde-Torres were both promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Individuals promoted to the rank of sergeant are: Terrence Covais, Edward Croissant, Patrick Headen, Charles Massucci, Martha Murillo, Garfield Neal, and Kelly Spanglo.

John Angelakopoulos, Marcus Bailey, Sarita Baker, Benjamin Brown, Otis Calhoun, Marc Cholnik, Kimberly Hill, Janise Man-Son-Hing, Michael Meyer, Robert Partner, Kanyon Rodriguez, and Joseph Susteck were promoted to detective/corporal positions.