By Wendy Sautter
Published on 1/7/2005
Groton -- After more than three decades on the job, Groton Town Police Chief, David N. Vanasse is ready to hang up his hat and spend more time at home with his wife, eight children and 11 grandchildren -- with another due in March to make it an even dozen. Vanasee, 56, a lifelong resident of Groton, made his way through the ranks over the past 34 years after he was sworn in on May 25, 1970. He spent time as an acting detective in the early 1970s, was promoted to sergeant in 1979, lieutenant in 1983 and captain in 1990. Then in 1995, Vanasse was promoted to assistant chief, appointed acting chief for several months, and then in December 1995 he was promoted to chief. "I had an opportunity to come on (the force) in 1970 when you could still say that police work and the style of policing was still a little bit in the old days as compared to what it is today," Vanasse said. One of the most important and career shaping advantages Vanasse said he had as a young officer was being able to work with some of the men who had been on duty during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. "When I started the department was still in the town hall building, a lot has changed since then," Vanasse said. "In those days they were learning the new school (techniques) and we were the new school in 1970," Vanasse said. "Right at that '70s point, everything changed and even though times were changing, I still was able to learn a lot from the old timers," he added. Vanasse said a major factor in his choice of the Groton police department, as opposed to other opportunities he had coming out of the academy, was the fact that "Groton Town Police was considered to be very progressive, and had the potential for a lot of growth." In the early days, Vanasse was very impressed with former Chief, Robert Falvey. Vanasse said it was Falvey's demeanor of "being quite, yet well-spoken and well-heard", and the fact that even though Falvey was "coming out of the '60s he had a good handle on being progressive" that helped shape way Vanasse would lead his career and eventually the department. "This department has always been looked on throughout the state as being one of the better departments and today I know that we still maintain the reputation that started way back then," Vanasse said. With eight children at home and the responsibility of running a police department, which today has more than 80 sworn officers and detectives, and several special divisions including a containment team, dive team, K-9 units, motor vehicle enforcement, bicycle patrol, community policing stations and a drug enforcement team, one can only imagine the level of organization and discipline the chief must exhibit to make it all run smoothly. Vanasse said he could not have done on his own. "My wife, Donna, has been by my side the entire time," Vanasse said. "She was a major factor in every promotion I ever received, whether it was to help me study for an exam or to make time and a quite space for me to do it -- she has always been so supportive." "I couldn't have had the career I did without her. She is exceptionally organized and motivated and keeps everything running smoothly and moving along ... and with eight kids and 11 grandchildren you can imagine what a task that is," Vanasse added. Donna said over the 35 years of their marriage there were times when Vanasse would get called away during family functions but that "it just goes with the territory." "That was just part of his job. David is a very helpful and caring person, he always has been and I think that is why he has been so successful in his career -- he really cares about people and he is always there for everybody," Donna Vanasse said. She said she is looking forward to having the chief around the house more and that she is up to the challenge of trying to "teach him how to relax a little more." "We're looking forward to traveling a bit. David wants to visit the Smithsonian and I want to visit family in Florida ... we've always talked about going to New Orleans so that's on our list too," Donna Vanasse said. According to Vanasse, living in the same town that he was chief of police in was a positive experience. "We probably did get some calls that if I hadn't lived in town I wouldn't have, but for the most part they were all helpful. In my opinion, if you live in the town you work in you tend to put a little more effort into it because it's your community," Vanasse said. "We have a lot of great officers who live out of town and do a great job, but for me it was good to be in town." Kelly Fogg, who was sworn in as assistant chief in July of 2004, assumed the roll of acting chief on Jan. 4. Fogg has been with the department for the past 23 years. "Chief Vanasse has been a valuable asset to the Town of Groton for 34 years. He has been very dedicated and devoted to the town and the police department throughout his career, giving much of himself," Fogg wrote in a recent email. "He encourages officers to do well and challenges them to succeed. He has been a great mentor and I consider myself fortunate to have worked with him over the years," Fogg added. Vanasse had considered retiring a year ago but after discussing it with his wife and struggling with feelings that he still had more to do, he decided to stay on the extra year. "Last year I was thinking about going right into full time consulting work, and I still kept changing my mind about whether I should retire or not," Vanasse said. "Now I'm ready -- it feels right. I may do some part-time consulting but I'm really looking forward to spending time with my family and I know Kelly Fogg is ready to take over," Vanasse said. (ital)A party in Vanasse's honor, open to the public, will take place from 5 to 7 tonight at the Groton Motor Inn and Suites. The Times is always looking for interesting people who live or work in town to profile for our weekly feature The Lives of Our Times. To suggest someone to profile, call Groton reporter Wendy Sautter at (860) 437-1150 ext. 20, e-mail w.sautter@shorepublishing.com, or fax (860) 437-1176. Please include some interesting background about the person as well as any contact numbers you might have.
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