University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Police Department Swears In Nine New Officers, Promotes Dewolf To Deputy Chief Of Operations
The UMass Amherst Police Department held a swearing-in and badge pinning ceremony for nine new officers and celebrated the promotion of a longtime member of the UMPD on April 23.
Deputy Chief Ian Cyr and Chief Tyrone Parham provided opening and welcoming remarks to the new officers and their families and friends attending the ceremony.
Promoted from lieutenant to deputy chief of operations was Damian DeWolf. He was selected for the position in January after a national search conducted by Spelman & Johnson. DeWolf has over 20 years of experience as a member of UMPD, including six as lieutenant and the past two in the role of interim deputy chief of operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark University.
“Over the span of his career, Deputy Chief DeWolf has demonstrated his dedication to the department and to the university,” says Parham. “He has been a valuable field training officer and a member of several UMPD units, including the tactical arrest and control team, the canine unit with K9 Bosco and the problem-solving unit.”
Parham added that DeWolf has been actively involved with the Walk This Way Team and Team Positive Presence, a liaison with Student Affairs and the Town of Amherst and has received a number of commendations and awards over the years. “Deputy Chief DeWolf has proven to be a conscientious, hard-working and effective leader,” Parham said.
The new UMPD officers who took their oath of office and received their badges are:
Dylan Auger
Auger was hired in October 2022 and attended the Western Mass Regional Police Academy from Oct. 2022 – March 2023. Prior to joining the UMPD, Auger worked for more than three years as a corrections officer for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a senior airman and public affairs specialist for the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Westover Air Reserve Base. Auger received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Westfield State University.
Nicholas Davis
Davis was hired in July 2022 and attended the Boylston Police Academy from July – December 2022. He previously worked as an estimator, project manager and installer for Kittredge Equipment Company in Agawam. Davis has also been head coach of the South Hadley High School track and field and cross country teams since 2009. Davis received his bachelor’s degree in movement science from Westfield State University and his Master’s in Education from Springfield College.
Brian Garcia
Garcia was hired in July 2022 and attended the Boylston Police Academy from July – December 2022. He previously worked for the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office as a Community Justice Support Center security/lab technician. He also worked as a patrol officer at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and was a part-time security officer at Deerfield Academy. He received his B.S. in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Westfield State University.
Jaymes Hoyt
Hoyt was hired in February 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic-induced campus shutdown. He attended the Boylston Police Academy from February – July 2020. Hoyt previously worked as a correctional officer at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and is an infantry member with the U.S. Army National Guard of Vermont.
Chrystopher Malone
Malone was hired in July 2022, and attended the Boylston Police Academy from July – December 2022. He was previously employed as a correctional officer for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and also has customer service and managerial experience in the banking industry. Malone attended Manhattanville College in New York and Westfield State University. He is also an assistant coach for the Springfield High School of Science and Technology track and field team.
Robert McAllister
McAllister was hired in December 2019 and attended the Springfield Police Academy from December 2019 – April 2020. An Amherst native, he was previously employed as an emergency medical technician for Pioneer Valley EMS, as well as a call force firefighter for the Amherst Fire Department. McAllister is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of the UMPD motorcycle unit and a first responder trainer.
Brian McNally
McNally was hired in July 2019 with 11 years of law enforcement experience as a full-time police officer in the Palmer Police Department. Prior to that, he served as a dispatcher and reserve intermittent officer with the Palmer PD. McNally is a member of the UMPD motorcycle unit and is also a field training officer.
Kimberly Muñoz
Muñoz was hired in May 2022 and attended the Boylston Police Academy from July – December 2022. She was a UMass Police cadet from September 2018 until being hired as an officer. Muñoz received her B.S. in criminal justice in 2021 from Westfield State University, where she is currently pursuing her master’s in criminal justice.
Jamie Posk
Posk was hired in October 2022 and attended the Western Mass Regional Police Academy from October 2022 – March 2023. Posk previously worked as a security agent for MassGrow in Athol, a safety/security specialist for Athol Hospital and an officer intern for the Athol Police Department. Posk received his associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Wachusett Community College and his bachelor’s degree in aviation science/flight training from Bridgewater State University.