By Joe Wojtas
Published on 6/5/2007

Monday was the deadline for the four eligible internal candidates to apply for the job. Three of them, Capt. Jerry Desmond, Lt. Darren Stewart and Detective Sgt. David Knowles, all confirmed they have applied for the job. The fourth, Lt. Ray Curioso, said he is nearing retirement and decided not to apply.

The Board of Police Commissioners has decided to limit its search for a successor to current Chief David Erskine to officers within the department. The three candidates will now be interviewed and evaluated by a committee of high-ranking law enforcement professionals and then interviewed by the board, which hopes to choose a new chief by the end of this month. Erskine is set to retire in February 2008 after 42 years with the department.

All three candidates are in their 40s, grew up in Stonington, graduated from Stonington High School and have spent their entire law enforcement careers in the department.

Desmond, 49, has been a member of the department for 26 years. He began as reserve officer in 1978 and was hired as a full-time officer two years later. He has worked as a youth officer, sergeant, and since 1997 as captain, the second-highest ranking position in the department. Desmond has a bachelor's degree in physical education from the former Southern Connecticut State College and is working on his master's degree in homeland security leadership at the University of Connecticut.

Desmond pointed to his experience, training and commitment to community policing as qualifying him for the job. Over the past decade, he said, he's been involved in practically every aspect of managing the department. He said the chief's job is also attractive because of the professionalism of the department's officers. He said he would implement new programs so an already great department can advance and “be the best we can be.”

Stewart, 43, has been a member of the department for 23 years. He's been a patrol officer, a member of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, a sergeant, detective sergeant, and for the past 10 years, a lieutenant. He earned an associate's degree in business from the Community College of Rhode Island, a bachelor's degree in general studies from Uconn, and a master's in business administration and a graduate professional certificate in human resource management from Salve Regina University. He is an adjutant faculty member at Salve Regina and UConn and specializes in law enforcement ethics and leadership. He also has worked with the Law Enforcement Council examining police ethics.

Having been involved in leadership roles in the department, he said it seems a natural progression to become chief.

“It's something I've always had in my mind. I've worked hard to put myself in a position to do this,” he said.

Knowles, 44, has been a member of the department for 22 years. He began as a patrol officer and has since served as a youth officer, sergeant, and since 1999 has headed the department's detective division. Knowles has a bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in forensic science from the former Eastern Connecticut State College. He also has a master's degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix and is in charge of the department's computer network. Knowles also trains other officers in computer and Internet crime through the Law Enforcement Council.
Stonington