GLP Police Department Gets a Makeover: New chief celebrates first-year anniversary

By Danielle Sherry
Published on 7/15/2005

Groton Long Point may be home to many summer residents, but the police department doesn't take the cold months off.

"We're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months out of the year," Groton Long Point police Chief John "Jack" Drumm said, addressing the common public misconception that his department is strictly seasonal.

"Sure, our population increases drastically during the summer months, but in the winter when all the transient renters move in, we have just as many calls and incidents," Drumm said last week.

Drumm was recruited for the position of chief about a year ago, when the Groton Long Point Association decided it wanted to improve the quality of the department. With his extensive law enforcement background and impressive resume, Drumm was a natural choice for the job.

"I retired from 25 years with the state police to take a position as an operations manager in the Department of Homeland Security in Jamaica," Drumm said, pulling out some pictures of cargo inspections he headed up on the island.

"I enjoyed that position, but it's nice to be back home in the States," he said.

Upon his arrival at the Groton Long Point department, Drumm did not hesitate to make changes.

"I wanted this department to become the best-trained, best-equipped unit out there," Drumm said. "Groton Long Point represents the ultimate in community policing."

The area, although only 3 square miles, nearly triples in population during the summer months. Add to that dynamic the guests and beachcombers who flood the shoreline as the temperatures rise, and Groton Long Point becomes a flurry of activity.

"Even though this place looks like a Norman Rockwell painting, bad stuff still happens here," said Drumm, reaching for a notebook of arrest sheets. "Assault, armed robbery, resisting arrest, domestic disturbance ... it all happens here during all 12 months. You can see that there isn't only incidents in the summer. The winter can be just as busy."

For example, just a few months ago, Groton Long Point officers foiled an attempted home invasion.

As part of Drumm's overhaul of the department, the unit's five full-time officers underwent extensive training over the past several months.

"We were trained by some of the best officers on the East Coast," Officer John Moore said. "It has definitely made us the best we can possibly be."

When they are not protecting the community from criminal threats, the officers focus their attention on other ways to aid the local area.

They have organized several community service functions, including two blood drives, a food bank fund-raiser and a hugely popular bike safety course for children.

"It's all a part of our job," Drumm said.

As a final step in the overhaul of the department, officers recently received new uniforms.

"The new design was so popular with the guys that we were entered into the 28th annual Best Dressed Law Enforcement Competition," said Moore, pointing out some of the nicer features of the new uniforms.

"I want people to know that this is a competent and capable department that has the respect of the community," Drumm said.

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The Groton Long Point Police Department is located at 3 Atlantic Ave. in Groton Long Point. For more information about community events call (860) 536-4921.

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