WHITMAN — The Whitman Police Department has officially welcomed two new members as officers. Richard Belcher and Christopher Ezepik were sworn in by Town Clerk Dawn Varley on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
“In this time of ongoing reform in the police profession, our most recent addition of officers Belcher and Ezepik have been a blessing, as the number of people interested in this career has dropped dramatically,” Police Chief Timothy Hanlon said. “It’s encouraging to see that there are people who realize the difficult situations that police officers respond to, but who remain committed to facing the challenge.”
He said besides Belcher and Ezepik, there are “a few in the bullpen waiting for an opportunity to open in the ranks of reserve/intermittent officers as well as the auxiliary unit.
Hanlon described each officer’s background before they were sworn in, by turn.
Belcher is a long-time Whitman resident and a 2006 graduate of WHRHS. He received a certificate in criminal justice from Lincoln Technical Institute, Somerville in 2008 and was appointed as a reserve/intermittent officer in 2017 and appointed as a full-time officer in November 2020. Belcher recently graduated the Cape Cod Municipal Police Academy, completed training and has been assigned to a permanent shift.
Ezepik is also a Whitman resident and a 2007 graduate of Cardnial Spellman High School and received a bachelor of arts degree in 2011 from Stonehill College.
He was also appointed as a reserve/intermittent officer in 2017 while he was employed as a court officer at Taunton District Court. Ezepik was appointed as a full-time officer in March 2021 and graduated in the 70th officer recruit class at the Plymouth Police Academy on July 23, receiving the top academic award. He is currently undergoing field training while awaiting a permanent shift.
“I’m glad to see that you’re Whitman residents, I like that idea,” said Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci in welcoming the new officers on behalf of the board. “Congratulations, and the main thing is stay safe.”