SAUGUS — For Fred Forni, a recent promotion to lieutenant marks the continuation of not only his nearly three-decade career on the force but also the legacy set by his grandfather, a former chief, and his father, a former officer.
Forni was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant last month after serving as a sergeant for nearly a decade, a move Chief Michael Ricciardelli said reflects the role Forni fills for the department.
As the department’s court prosecutor, Forni is responsible for nearly all of its contact with both Lynn District and Salem Superior Court, processing arrests, summons, harassment orders, and restraining orders and being present for court proceedings. That role is typically held by a lieutenant in other departments, and with Forni performing well on the civil service promotional exam, he was a natural fit to move up in the ranks, according to Ricciardelli.
“Everything kinda fell into place for him,” Ricciardelli said in an interview, adding Forni has served as the prosecution officer for “a long, long time.” “He’s well versed in everything that goes on down there.”
Ricciardelli said the court prosecutor’s role has only grown in recent years in terms of scope and responsibility, making it more fitting of a lieutenant, who would have additional managerial responsibilities, than a sergeant.
Forni is a third-generation Saugus officer, with both his father and grandfather serving in the department and his grandfather eventually becoming a chief. His father, who served as an officer, had his career cut short after he was shot in the line of duty. And that’s not all — Forni’s wife is also a Saugus officer, and his brother has been a State Police trooper for many years.
Ricciardelli, who joined the force only a year before Forni, has a lot of faith in the new lieutenant.
“He does a great job with everything he does,” he said.
For his part, Forni said he was “completely overwhelmed” when he got the call from Ricciardelli and Town Manager Scott Crabtree that he was being promoted to lieutenant.
But Forni wasn’t even sure he was going to take the promotional exam this go around after his father died just days before the exam. When he topped the exam and received word of his promotion, it represented fulfilling a lifelong dream for someone who grew up embedded in the Saugus Police Department.
“I only regret that [my father] wasn’t there to see me get promoted,” Forni said, his voice tapering off. “I remember when I got promoted to sergeant, he was ecstatic.”
“I know he was looking down on me,” he added.
And while Forni was certainly grateful for the opportunity, he said his wife, Stacey, a detective who has been on the force for nearly as long as he had, was equally deserving of the promotion, if not more so.
“I owe most of this to [her],” he said. “She’s a much better police officer than I’ll ever be.”
