Four SPD officers promoted at City Hall with officials, family

Mayor Domenic Sarno stands with Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence “Larry” Akers, Deputy Chiefs David Martin and David Kane and newly promoted Capts. Eleni Barbieri and Derek Cook and Lts. Jacob Strange and Jason Sleeper.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — Four Springfield police officers were officially promoted at a pinning ceremony on July 17. Eleni Barbieri and Derek Cook ascended to the rank of captain, while Jacob Strange and Jason Sleeper made lieutenant.

“Captains Barbieri and Cook, you now are commanders of your own units,” Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence “Larry” Akers told them at the ceremony in City Hall. “Make sure that your supervisors… know the direction you want to lead this department. With one thing, it has to be the same thing that I want,” Akers joked, then said, “We all have to be on the same team, moving in the same direction. You’re in a very important position to do that.”

Referring to the officers the captains now command, Akers said, “They will follow you, as long as you’re firm but fair.”

Addressing Strange and Sleeper, Akers said, “You’re now the leaders on the street. No more calling the lieutenant for the solution because you are the solution… You’ve got to be ready to accept that challenge.” He said, “You don’t need to change. You just need to be there for the people that are depending on you.”

Akers told the officers, “Wear your new rank with pride. Lead with purpose. Never forget that true leadership is not measured by bars on the shoulders, but by the lives you influence and the examples that you leave behind.”

Mayor Domenic Sarno recognized the officer’s families. “I thank you for allowing these young men and young lady to continue to serve the city of Springfield… You not only stand behind them, you stand right beside them.” He said a support system is deeply important.

“I am proud to congratulate our brave and dedicated Springfield police officers who are being promoted today,” Sarno said. “Thank you to each of you and your families for continuing to step up to serve and protect all of our residents and business community with courage, professionalism, honor and integrity. We are grateful for your service and continued brave and dedicated efforts in keeping our Springfield community safe.”

Among those present to see the promotions were the department’s command staff, members of the Board of Police Commissioners and Wards 3 and 6 City Councilors Melvin Edwards and Victor Davila, and police officials from other area cities.

Akers said the Springfield Police Department focuses on promoting from within. “If you come in this department and you study hard and you do a good job, you have a chance of being promoted,” Akers said. He explained that people retire regularly and there are always opportunities for people who want to put in the work.

The superintendent reflected on each of the officers. “Capt. Barbieri is going to continue to be my commander, director of my academy… She’s been in that position probably about 15 years, so she was the best person for that job. I needed someone with experience there.”

Speaking of Cook, Akers said, “He’s done a lot for this department. He’s done a lot of different units. I think absolutely he’s going to be an asset.” He said Cook oversees the third-shift uniform division, where many of the younger, less experienced officers work.

Strange and Sleeper are both assigned to the uniform division. Akers said Strange has the training to help young, uniformed officers, while Sleeper came from the traffic division. “So, these officers have always been in places where they can take their expertise and bring them to the uniformed officers, especially the young officers.”

Reflecting on his career, Cook said, “It’s been a very long journey, one that I wouldn’t change for anything. I would say the most important thing is, as we grow as people, we make mistakes. You mess up. But life teaches us that we can grow from those mistakes and errors and learn from them. I would like to think that I’m a culmination of 34, going on 35 years of errors and mistakes with corrections. I’m truly humbled and blessed to be here.”

Sleeper described his career as “fantastic… a learning experience.” A Springfield native, he said he was, “Glad to be here, glad to work here in this city that I love… I put in the time, I put in the hours, and it paid off and it feels fantastic.”

Barbieri had a different perspective on rising through the ranks. “It’s been a challenge for sure, as a woman in law enforcement. It’s an extremely humbling experience to be where I am today. It’s been extremely rewarding to show what hard work and good leadership can accomplish.”

Barbieri’s husband, retired Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri, pinned her captain’s badge to her uniform during the ceremony. Of her husband, Barbieri said, “He’s been an unbelievable mentor, and I look up to him in all aspects of where I am today. Through his guidance and his honorable leadership has truly molded me into the person that I am today.”

Cook was pinned by his wife. Sleeper’s daughter and grandson did the honors for him, while Strange’s two young sons pinned his badge on his uniform.

Each of the officers shared one common theme — a desire to train the department’s newer, less experienced officers.

“I think the most important thing is I’m looking to mold the new officers that have been hired. We have a very young department. They have a little bit of experience, and I want to increase that and take what I’ve learned in 35 years and pass it down, so they can also grow big and strong,” Cook said with a laugh.

Barbieri said she is most looking forward to “being a voice for, primarily, the women and men who don’t have a voice in our profession right now, and just to lead with dignity and honor, and holding myself accountable and… our people accountable.”

There’s one thing Cook wanted people to understand about the city’s police force. “The Springfield Police Department is made up of people who are here to do one thing, and that is to keep people safe,” he said. “We also want to teach people that it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to embrace the different styles that we bring to the table, but one thing that the Springfield Police Department doesn’t ascribe to is crime. So, do it, but do it right. If you don’t, we’re there to be there and catch you.”