The appointment of #MiddletownRI native Clifford McGregor to major and second in command led the list Monday night of promotions and new hires for the Police Department. Here's to our emergency responders who put it on the line everyday for our community.
MIDDLETOWN POLICE ANNOUNCE PROMOTIONS, NEW HIRES
MIDDLETOWN, RI (OCTOBER 7, 2025) – It was a night of celebration for the Middletown Police.
The Valley Road department received wide applause and praise during a promotional and hiring ceremony prior to Monday night’s Town Council meeting in Town Hall.
Leading the list, Clifford McGregor was promoted to the rank of major. McGregor — a Middletown native who was hired in 2008 — serves as the department’s second-in-command under Chief Jason Ryan.
Michael Foody was also sworn into the rank of sergeant after most recently serving as a patrol officer on the day shift.
Middletown native Tate Copeland joined Drew Dillon, Shawn Ingram and Nathan Souza as probationary patrol officers, with Czech German shepherd sworn in as the department’s newest K9 partnered with Patrol Officer Paul Ciaravino.
“All of these promotions and new hires move our department in the right direction,” Chief Jason Ryan said. “We’re proud to continue to serve and protect Middletown and appreciate the support we receive in the community.”
Known as one of the best and most respected departments in all of Rhode Island, Middletown Police has 41 sworn officers as well as a handful of civilian personnel.
A 24/7 operation, the Middletown Police is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency that has multiple divisions from patrol and investigations to administration and more.
The department prides itself on helping keep the community safe and being actively involved with area youth through its School Resource Officer (SRO) program.
From Chief Ryan to the newest patrol officer, the department aims to assist every population in Middletown and holds regular community outreach events so residents, businesspeople and visitors to get to know officers that much better.
Both Copeland and Souza were members of the department’s summer internship program, where students can learn different aspects of law enforcement in a hands-on environment.
“We’re happy to have Tate and Nate join us as sworn probationary officers,” Ryan said. “We’ve seen solid success from the summer internship program and it helps us address the needs of our community while providing first hand learning experiences to those who might be interested in a career in law enforcement.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-MPD-102025
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov