He replaces veteran Donald Brown who retired effective Sept. 1 after 34 years on the force. Call joins Deputy Chief Gary Golas in second-in-command duties to Chief Al Fiore.
The 45-year-old Call, a Staples High School graduate and son of the late Westport Police Inspector George Call, will be sworn in Friday at a 2:30 p.m. ceremony in the police classroom.
Also being sworn in will be Sgt. John Croffy who is being promoted to lieutenant; Detective John Calka who becomes a sergeant, and Patrolman Vincent Penna, who also advances to sergeant.
Here are biographies of the new officers as supplied by the Westport Police Department:
Deputy Chief Dale E. Call joined the Westport Police Department in January 1984 and was promoted to sergeant in 1993, then promoted to inspector in 2001 and obtained the rank of lieutenant in 2004.
He graduated from Staples High School and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in administration of criminal justice from Mountain State University, Beckley, W.V. where he is currently a candidate for Master of Science in strategic leadership.
Call has been the commander of the Westport Police Department Honor Guard since 1998, a K-9 handler then commander of the K-9 Unit from 1991-2006, administrative lieutenant from 2004-2006 and detective commander from 2006-2007.
Call was the Police Benevolent Association president from 2000-2001. He and his wife Suzanne reside in Monroe and have a son and daughter.
Lt. John Croffy joined the Westport Police Department in April 1975 and was promoted to sergeant in 1998 and was assigned to the Patrol Division.
He attended Staples High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University. He attended the Fairfield County Detective School in 1987 and is a certified laser and radar instructor.
Croffy and his wife Theresa reside in Fairfield and they have two children, Jennifer and Jaime.
Sgt. John Calka joined the Westport Police Department in October 1979 and was promoted to desk officer in 1984, then promoted to detective in January 1993.
Calka obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and an associate’s degree from Middlesex Community College.
Calka attended the Fairfield County Detective School in 1988 and was assigned to the crash investigation team, Bridgeport Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Bridgeport Regional Burglary Task Force and is currently assigned to the Connecticut Intelligence Center, Fairfield County Region.
Calka has also been an instructor with the Westport Police Citizen’s Academy and is currently serving as secretary with the Fairfield County Detective Conference.
Calka and his wife Lois reside in Darien and they have two children, Alexandra and Elizabeth.
Sgt. VincentPennajoined the Westport Police Department in February 1994. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University and has attended the Fairfield County Detective School.
Penna has been a field training officer, member of the Tactical Team, certified police instructor, a firearms instructor and was assigned to the Detective Bureau for three years.
Penna is a past president of the Westport Police Benevolent Association and is currently president of Westport Police Union Local 2080.
Penna and his wife Denise reside in Westport with their two children, Vincent and Nicholas.
Posted 09/14 at 07:37 PM