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Adelino Sousa has been promoted to Captain and now oversees the Detectives Division of the New Bedford Police Department.
He is filling the position vacated by Capt. Steven Vicente, who retired in February.
Capt. Sousa joined the New Bedford Police Department in 1994, became part of the Narcotics Division in 2000 and assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force in 2001. Captain Sousa was also assigned to the Gang Unit from 2006 to 2009.
He was promoted to Sergeant in July 2009 and Lieutenant in September 2012.
Capt. Sousa was born in Saint Michael, the Azores in Portugal, and immigrated with his family to New Bedford at the age of 13. He graduated from New Bedford High School and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from Western New England College.
Chief Joseph Cordeiro spoke highly of Capt. Sousa. “Captain Sousa has a wealth of investigative experience that will serve him well as Commander of the Detective Division,’’ Chief Cordeiro said. “His enthusiasm for police work and strong work ethic has been the foundation of his law enforcement success. I have the utmost confidence in his abilities and expect that he will continue to professionalize the Detective Division.’’
Capt. Sousa states he chose police work as he considers it an honorable and valued profession. “I want to help people and have that rewarding feeling at the end of the day knowing that I made a difference and left a positive influence on the community I serve.”
Capt. Sousa looks forward to working with members of the Detectives Unit. “I have the utmost confidence in the group of detectives that I’m overseeing. They are a very dedicated group of men and women who hold an abundance of experience with crime solving. I’m also honored to be chosen to represent the department as the commanding officer in charge of the detectives Unit. I’m committed to continuing to serve the community, and will always do what is in the best interest of the citizens.’’
He thanked his “colleagues, family, and friends for all the support throughout my career. I especially want to thank my parents who, like many Portuguese immigrants, made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving all they had known behind so that I would be allowed this great opportunity for achievement.”
