ROCHESTER - Rochester Police Officer Nathan Valente has been promoted to sergeant.

Police Chief Robert Small and the Board of Selectmen made it official at Monday night’s meeting, signing the paperwork and presenting Valente with a badge for his new rank.

Valente was hired as a full-time officer in February 2014, after serving as a part-time officer prior to that. He took the sergeants exam this past February, and according to Small “scored very well.”

He also attended field training officer school, and has since trained several of the department’s new officers.

“It’s always great to have an opportunity to promote and to promote from within,” Select Chair Woody Hartley said.

Valente is moving into the sergeant position left open by Small’s recent promotion to police chief. He was officially sworn in on Sept. 14 after the resignation of longtime police chief Paul Magee.