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Deputy Chief Cathleen Lyons Moniz was born, raised, and educated in Fall River. She attended parochial school and graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Hearts in 1970. She earned an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement at Bristol Community College, graduating with High Honors. She majored in both Criminal Justice and Public Administration at Roger Williams University, graduating with a Baccalaureate in Science Degree. She completed a Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice at Roger Williams University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Suffolk University.

Deputy Chief Moniz started her career in law enforcement with the City of New Bedford in 1974. She worked first in the Criminal Justice Office and, later, as a research assistant for the New Bedford Police Department, receiving a promotion to supervisor of that Department’s Crime Analysis Unit.

In 1977, she was appointed to the Fall River Police Department as one of its first two female police officers. Prior to that, female employees had been designated as "police women" who had different duties and pay structures. After graduation from the state-mandated 12-week academy course, Officer Moniz was assigned to night patrol duties for six years. During that time, she worked in various capacities including assignment to walking beats, cruiser patrols, booking room and communications functions, and as a certified sexual assault investigator.

In March 1983, Officer Moniz was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was assigned to patrol supervisor duties for the next several years. During this time, Sergeant Moniz continued to provide supervision for Uniform Division sexual assault investigations in addition to her other patrol duties.

In May of 1987, she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In that capacity, she was responsible for many of the functions necessary for the successful operation of the Police Department facilities, including all building and vehicle maintenance, all communications functions, all record-keeping and archival functions, and all prisoner welfare. During this time, she also oversaw the Department’s introduction to computerized dispatching (CAD) functions and overhauled the Department’s archives containing more than 100 years of records.

In October of 1989, Lieutenant Moniz was promoted to the rank of captain. She assumed command for the Staff Services Division, with additional responsibility for three more support units in the Administrative Bureau. She was later transferred as commander to the Major Crimes Division. As Detective Captain Moniz, she was responsible for approximately twenty detectives in four units and the investigation, case management, and prosecution of all Part I crimes including murder and manslaughter; rape and related assaults; robberies; burglaries and breaks; auto theft and auto arson; and major larcenies, scams, and con games.

In May of 1993, Captain Moniz was promoted to Deputy Chief for Administration. The Administration Bureau consists of twelve separate units and approximately seventy personnel who handle functions such as communications, E911, department computer systems, record-keeping, cruiser maintenance, building maintenance, jail and prisoner welfare, the training office, firearms licensing, and the planning office.

In the past decade, Deputy Chief Moniz has also overseen the continual upgrade of many of the Department’s computer and electronic systems (CJIS, CAD, RM, alarms, fingerprints, firearms, photographs, etc.). She supervised the move to a new police facility between 1995 and 1997. She was responsible for the completed upgrade and ’civilianization’ of the Communications unit in 1999, and the completed implementation of centralized police, fire, and EMS dispatch services in mid - 2003.

Professionally, she is a member of the Fall River Police Relief Association, the Massachusetts Police Association, Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association (MCSA), APCO, and National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). She is a member of the Advisory Board for Roger Williams University’s Justice System Training and Research Institute.

Deputy Chief Moniz also serves as the administrator of the Thomas J. Giunta Memorial Trust (killed in the line of duty, 1994) and the Richard G. Magan Memorial Trust (killed in the line of duty, 2000).

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