Retiring officers honored

Retiring officers honored

January 17, 2008
Linda R. Goodman, Editor

Stratford police officers and officials mingled with dignitaries, friends and family members at Stratford High School Sunday to honor eight retiring officers,seven who have been promoted, and seven more who have just joined the force.

The retired officers - Captains Mark DeLieto, Thomas Rodia and Christopher Marino; Detectives David Evans, Richard Yeomans, Robert Skrutsky, and Daniel Bacchiocchi; and former Chief Michael Imbro - were honored for their combined 230 years of service to Stratford.
"We are going to recognize our own, those men and women who are dedicated through their work and training and deserved to be promoted to captain and lieutenant, detective and corporal," said Mayor James Miron, in introductory remarks. "I'm proud as the mayor of this town to oversee this department, with 110 dedicated and courageous men and women in the 17th largest municipality in the state of Connecticut, who keep it safe and sound 24-7, rain or shine, who work tirelessly for the citizens of the town."
The retired officers each had at least 25 years of experience on the job before taking the option of some quiet time and a pension in lieu of long hours of catching criminals and protecting the public.
"It was time to go," said Skrutsky, a 31-year police veteran, about his decision to leave. He said he won't miss the working 60-70 hours a week or the phone ringing at all hours of the day and night, calling him to duty. "It's a young man's job," he said.

'Well-deserved'
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, whom Miron introduced as a "champion for all things" in Connecticut, thanked the officers for putting their lives on the line every day, protecting the town.
"I am really honored and delighted to be a part of this ceremony because it truly pays tribute, well-deserved, to the bravery and commitment and dedication of some of our finest, some of our best and brightest."

Promotions
Officers receiving promotions were:
* Lt. John Popik, who moved up to the rank of captain and is now in charge of the detective bureau;
* Lt. Joe McNeil, also a new captain and heading the patrol division;
* Capt. Ken Bakalar, formerly the senior captain on the force and now the administrative captain;
* Sgt. Greg Proudfoot, who is a new lieutenant and heading the records division;
* Det. Brian Budd, who moved up to sergeant and is now the patrol supervisor;
* Cpl. Victor Velez and Officer Sarah Patrick, who are now detectives; and
* Officer Roger Miller, who moved up to corporal.
Earning a promotion is "a process where you really have to study pretty hard and get all the information," Budd said after the ceremony. "You probably have a couple thousand pages worth of material that you have to study, and they only ask 100 questions on the test. So I've been through the process a couple times.
"As you take each test, you get a little more familiar with how to do them," he said. "Obviously, like anything in life, you get more proficient at it.
"I believe what helps out most people is the ability to deal with the public. I think when you're a police officer on the street for three, four, five-plus years, you get more proficient at that."
Popik, a 29-year police veteran, also spent time with the Ridgefield Police Department before coming to Stratford in 1986.
"If I was to do it all over again, I would the same thing," he said. "It's a challenge for me."
He anticipates some reorganization work ahead of him. "We lost a lot of members of the detective bureau," Popik said, "and I look forward to the challenge of rebuilding the bureau."

New faces
The five new police officers are Kevin Lyman, Jose Dias, Steve Luciano, Christopher Ruskin and Brian Lindsey. The department also gained two new assistant animal control officers, Sterett Pixley and Jennifer Murolo.
Police Chief John Buturla advised the new officers they now personify their badges, a sign of shielding the town's citizens from any harm or danger.
"I ask that you look at the badge of your office," he said. "It is shaped like a shield. The shield will carry as a symbol of the office and responsibility that you now have to protect our citizens, your fellow officers and yourself. The shield signifies our role as protectors. Wear the shield properly."
Buturla also thanked the families who have "shared your loved ones with us."

Awards
Sunday's ceremony also was an opportunity to bestow several departmental awards to police officers and civilians for accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty during the past year. These awards were:
* Criminal Investigation Award to Det. David Gugliotti, who was investigating counterfeit checks, which in turn involved several federal offenses.
* Lifesaving Award to Officer Thomas Clements, who distracted a suicidal man, who brandished a kitchen knife, long enough to pull him off the rail of the George Washington (Route 1) Bridge on the Stratford-Milford border.
* Excellent Arrest Award to Clements and Lt. Alan Wilcoxson, who apprehended a man in what started out to be a traffic stop and turned into an armed confrontation. The suspect initially sped through a stop sign, and a check of the vehicle's license plates indicated the vehicle was stolen. After the officers stopped the car, the occupant got out and pointed a 9 mm pistol at Wilcoxson before running. The gun belonged to a New Haven police officer whose house was burglarized a short time before this incident.
* Excellent Arrest Award to Officer Brian Oliver, who was part of an honor guard during a funeral when he saw and nabbed a young man who fit the description of someone who had just tried to break into a nearby house.
* Police Commendation Ribbon to Det. Brian Budd, who coordinated support for a National Night Out event at Longbrook Park in August, attended by approximately 500 people, including Blumenthal.