Like last year, the ceremony will be a bit larger than most, since there was a large amount of officers joining the force in 1980.

According to Capt. Ken Bakalar many of the positions vacated by the retirees will be filled immediately, with perhaps a few detective positions remaining open until a new class of officers graduate in a few months.

We'll be doing some interviews in January; this is a transitional period for the department. There's a lot going on now," he said.

Retirees include SPD's former spokesperson, Capt. Chris Marino, Captains Mark DeLieto, and Chris Rodia, Detectives Daniel Bacchiocchi, David Evans, Robert Skrutsky and Det. Richard Yeomans.

Promotions include Lt. John Popik's promotion to captain of the department's detective bureau, Bakalar's lateral promotion to police department spokesperson, Sgt. Francis Gregg Proudfoot's promotion to lieutenant. in the Records Department; Detective Brian Budd's promotion to sergeant., Patrolman Sarah Patrick's promotion to detective; Cpl. Victor Velez' promotion to detective and officer Roger Miller's promotion to corporal.

Bakalar said if the department feels any pinch, it will be in the detective bureau.

"With the retirement of that many veteran detectives, a wealth of experience naturally goes with them," said Bakalar. But, he added, the department's remaining experienced detectives will be sure to show the new ones the ropes.

The most noticeable part of the job he said has been the "emptiness" of the department.

"It's been a strange day with so many people not being here," he said. "The atmosphere's a little different."

The ceremony also will have an awards presentation as well. The ceremony will include awards for lifesaving, a citizen's award for helping officers with the arrest of a dangerous felon and awards to officers who aided people involved in a deadly car crash on River Road (Route 110) in July of 2006.

©Stratford Bard 2008