Retirements could mean restructuring

Linda R. Goodman, Stratford Star Editor January 03, 2008

The Stratford Police Department will undergoing a facelift in the coming months as seven veterans with 25 years or more of service retire. Other officers will receive promotions and transfers within the department, and Chief John Buturla plans to restructure the department as well.

Retiring from the force are Detective Bureau Commander and Capt. Tom Rodia, a 32-year veteran; Det. Bob Skrutsky, a 31-year veteran; Patrol Capt. Mark DeLieto, a 27-year veteran; Administrative Capt. Christopher Marino, 27 years; Det. Rich Yeomans, 27 years; Det. Dave Evans, who works with the Youth Bureau and is involved in the Police Athletic League, 25 years; and Det. Daniel Bacchiocchi, 25 years. "Combined, we're losing approximately 200 years worth of experience this week," Buturla said Monday. "As a result of that, we're facing the department staff being down to 98 officers. Additionally, we have four officers out on extended leave due to illness or injury, so that further reduces our effective staff to 94." Marino, who had handled media relations, said he is going to miss working with the public, but he will not miss the late-night phone calls that meant he had to go in to fill a shift or that a major crime had taken place in town. Marino said he will be headed for Arizona to join his wife Donna, who took a position as president of the Catholic Community Foundation of Phoenix. They also have family living in the area. Marino admitted felling "a little apprehensive" about the move. "If it was something that I didn't have to do, I wouldn't," he said. All the retiring officers will be honored at a ceremony scheduled for Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. in Stratford High School. Promoted officers will be recognized then too. "It's an unprecedented time for this department," said Buturla. "We are losing seven highly decorated, very experienced and well-respected individuals. In the department's history, it has never seen a retirement like this, coupled with the promotion list, which has been completely exhausted." Buturla said the police department is in the midst of hiring entry-level officers, but filling 13 vacancies in the 111-member department has been difficult. He said some new officers recently went to the police academies in Milford, Bridgeport and Meriden for training, with others to follow in April. Then the department should be back to full staff. "The difficult aspect to that is, it takes at least a year from the date they are hired before they are effectively providing services to the town," Buturla said. "One of the things the deputy chief and I have done, taking a look at the entire department structure, is looking at how we can provide a better level of service to the community; and in this particular case, how we can maintain the same level of service to the community." Those who are being promoted in the ranks include Lt. John Popik, who was promoted to captain and will be in charge of the detective bureau; Lt. Joe McNeil who will move up to captain and head the patrol division; Capt. Ken Bakalar, the senior captain on the force, who will take over as administrative captain; and Sgt. Greg Proudfoot, who will become a lieutenant and take charge of the records division. Detective Brian Budd will move up to sergeant and will be the patrol supervisor; Cpl. Victor Velez and Officer Sarah Patrick will become detectives; and Officer Roger Miller will become a corporal. A few officers will switch jobs in the coming days. Lieutenant David Salik will be traffic division commander, Lt. Orlando Soto will work in the detective bureau, and Lt. Patrick Freer will take over as training division commander. Buturla said that with these personnel changes, now would be the time to reformat the department and make it more effective. "I've had several conversations with the union [AFL-CIO Police Union Local 407] regarding the proposed changes in the table of organization that would have eliminated one of the captain's positions in favor of making additional promotions in the area to the rank of sergeant. "Some of the conversations that I had with the union require negotiations, but it never got to that point because the union's contract expires in 2009. They felt it was in their best interest to wait." Buturla said he will run the department for now with three captains - one for administration, one for patrol and one for the detective division. This restructuring would be the first since 1975. "Previously, we had several captains working patrol, Buturla said. "This will improve the efficiency and effectiveness because the chain of command within the patrol division will lead to one captain instead of several. It will allow Capt. McNeil to have greater influence on the vast majority of the department in the patrol division and to deploy resources where he feels they would be necessary or most effective." Buturla said he also hopes to add more community resource officers in the future, increase the number of sergeants, and maybe add another deputy chief in lieu of eliminating the captain's position. Buturla himself is relatively new to the Stratford Police Department, having been on the job only nine months. He replaced retired Chief Michael Imbro in April. Buturla's father, Joseph C. Buturla, was a 39-year veteran of the Stratford Police Dept. and retired as captain of the detective bureau. Richard Buturla, the chief's older brother, is the town attorney.