AMHERST — Two long-serving officers with the Amherst Police Department recently earned promotions.
Gabriel Ting, a sergeant for the past six years, was named lieutenant to fill the vacancy created when Ronald A. Young was promoted to captain, while Janet M. Lopez, a detective for 11 years, was named sergeant to fill Ting’s position.
The promotions were announced Tuesday by Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone.
Ting, part of the force since April 1997, previously served as a detective, where he received specialized training in homicide, arson, hate crimes and sexual assault investigations. He has also been a field training officer and crime scene officer, and been a member of the bicycle patrol and warrant entry team. Ting is an instructor for the Massachusetts Police Training Committee in Springfield.
A 1991 graduate of Amherst Regional High School, Ting earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England College. He graduated in 1997 from the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Academy in Agawam.
The son of Agnes Ting and the late James Ting of Amherst, Gabriel Ting lives in Belchertown with wife, Chelsea, and two children.
Lopez, part of the force since January 1999, has been the detective department’s liaison to the Eastern Hampshire District Court, and performed duties including being a death scene and sexual assault investigator. She also received training in criminal investigative techniques and sexual assault and domestic violence investigations. She teaches at the Western Massachusetts Police Academy in Springfield.
Lopez received a bachelor of law enforcement degree from Western New England College and master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. She graduated in 1999 from the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Academy.
A member of the 26th Maneuver Engagement Brigade in Natick, Lopez joined the National Guard in 1995, and holds a rank of sergeant first class. In 2003, she deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and in 2009-2010 deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Both promotions came after a selection process that included a written examination and interviews with Livingstone, Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Human Resources Director Deborah Radway.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
