HAMPTON -- Lt. Richard Sawyer of the Hampton Police Department has taken on a new role, captain.

Sawyer was sworn in on Friday afternoon. He fills the position left vacant when Capt. Jamie Sullivan was promoted to chief earlier this month. In turn, Sullivan was sworn in as chief after former chief Bill Wrenn retired and took a position as head of the state's corrections department.

Sullivan said Sawyer was the right man for the job.

"He is very well respected by the officers and the community," said Sullivan. "I'm very excited to offer him the position."

Sawyer has risen through the ranks; starting as a patrolman in Hampton in 1996, and moving on to become sergeant, lieutenant and now captain in charge of the department's operations bureau. He joins Capt. Timothy Crotts, with whom Sawyer will share second in command duties.

Since serving in the Marine Corps Reserves, Sawyer has been an officer in several seacoast towns including Rye and North Hampton. He began his illustrious law enforcement career in Rye in 1989 as a part-time officer.

Sawyer is a Winnacunnet High School graduate and recently received his Bachelor's degree from Springfield College. He lives in Hampton with his wife Dawn, who is a sergeant with Greenland Police Department, and his 4-year-old daughter, Isabella.

Sawyer was not available for comment, as he has been in Concord for training this past week.