Waller, Fleming Join Methuen Police as Full-Time Officers

Officer Patrick Fleming, Chief Joseph E. Solomon and Officer Joshua Waller. (Courtesy photograph.)

Joshua Waller and Officer Patrick Fleming have joined the Methuen Police Department as full-time officers.

Both graduated from the Northern Essex Community College/Methuen Police Department Academy earlier this month. During the graduation ceremony, Waller received the “Top Gun” firearms award for having the highest marksmanship score in his platoon, according to a statement from Mayor Stephen N. Zanni and Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon.

“Both of these men have proven to be valuable assets in their previous roles and I am confident that they will continue to do so in their new positions,” Solomon said.

Waller was hired by Methuen Police as an intermittent officer in 2006 and began as a reserve officer in June, 2015. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Washington College. Officer Waller is married and has four children. Fleming has also served as a reserve officer with Methuen Police since June, 2015, and holds an associate’s in criminal justice from Middlesex Community College. He is a third-generation police officer in Methuen, following in the steps of his father and grandfather, and has also worked for the Methuen School Department since 2013.

Both men have begun an intensive 17-week field training program and will be assigned to a full-time shift in November.

“On behalf of the entire Methuen Police Department, I would like to congratulate Officer Waller and Officer Fleming on their recent graduation from the academy,” Chief Solomon said. “Both of these men have proven to be valuable assets in their previous roles and I am confident that they will continue to do so in their new positions.”

The new hires follow a number of promotions within the department.

Joseph L. Rynne Jr., of Methuen, was promoted to sergeant. He is a 14-year veteran of the Methuen Police Department and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Daniel O’Connell, of Methuen, was promoted to sergeant. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 11 years. O’Connell was appointed as a reserve officer in 2005 and a full-time officer in 2006 before attending the Lowell Police Academy. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Eric Deleon, of Methuen, was promoted to sergeant. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 17 years. After graduating from Methuen High School in 1996, Deleon served in the U.S. Army three years. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Hesser College.

Joseph Aiello was promoted to lieutenant. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 23 years and holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Aiello served as a U.S. Navy Seabee and obtained the rank of petty officer third class.

Ron Valliere was promoted to lieutenant. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 25 years. During that time, alliere has been assigned to several divisions including the Patrol Division, Community Policing Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Drug and Gang Unit and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

James Jajuga Jr. was promoted to captain. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 17 years. Over the course of his career, Jajuga. has served as the Patrol Division shift supervisor and commander, and has overseen narcotics, gangs, homeland security, community policing, the Burglary Task Force and Detective Division. Jajuga holds a bachelor’s degree from Franklin Pierce University and a juris doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law.

Kevin Mahoney was promoted to captain. He has been with the Methuen Police Department for 27 years and represents the department as a board member of the Holy Family Hospital Community Benefits Board as well as the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project. Capt. Mahoney has a degree from Northern Essex Community College.