Sneaker-loving Cardoso steps into new role
Apr 27, 2024
From left to right: Lt. Justin King, the newly promoted Sgt. Adalberto “Junior” Cardoso, Chief Jason King and Lt. Scott LeBlanc. Source: Mattapoisett Police Department
Cardoso stands with his wife and two children. Source: Mattapoisett Police Department
Cardoso poses for a photo with Old Rochester Regional High School students. Photo by Brendan Cassidy
MATTAPOISETT — On the night of Mattapoisett’s Town Meeting agenda being finalized, Officer Adalberto “Junior” Cardoso’s promotion to Sergeant stole the show at the Mattapoisett Select Board meeting on Thursday, April 25, drawing a large crowd of students and fellow police officers.
The Mattapoisett Select Board unanimously approved Cardoso’s promotion.
Cardoso has been a patrol officer for the Mattapoisett Police Department since 2013 and also serves as a school resource officer.
“His dedication of building trust and rapport in the ORR community is evident in his involvement in school activities and his genuine connection with the students,” said Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King.
King said Cardoso will assume the role of assisting and guiding other on-duty officers while remaining an “invaluable” school resource officer.
After the promotion was made official, Cardoso was greeted with a wave of hugs and congratulations by the Mattapoisett and Old Rochester Regional community.
“The support I had that night from these kids and the school really meant a lot to me,” said Cardoso. “It’s great to see the impact you have on people.”
According to the Mattapoisett Police Department, Cardoso will also begin overseeing new school resource officers at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
King, who noted that Cardoso is known for his sneakers and dance moves, said he has “all confidence” in Cardoso’s ability to be a sergeant.
“Officer Cardoso’s promotion is not only a testament to his outstanding character and professionalism but also a reflection of the values and principles upheld by the Mattapoisett Police Department,” said King.
Cardoso said that when he first started out as a school resource officer, he asked King if he could wear pairs from his sneaker collection to work each day.
“Kids came up to me and opened up conversations,” said Cardoso. “They saw me as a human being and that is what I wanted — I try to relate to these kids as much as I can.”
Cardoso said the pair of shoes from his collection that has brought the biggest reaction out of students are his Air Jordan 1 Travis Scott Black Phantoms.
