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Vernon moves 2 officers up; 2 join the force
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| By Laura Normand, Journal Inquirer |
August 25, 2005 |
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Michael and Rachel Hardy, children of Milton Hardy, pin a new badge on their father’s shirt at the Vernon Police Department on Monday. (Irena Pastorello / Journal Inquirer)
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VERNON -- In a standing-room-only ceremony on Monday, the Vernon Police Department congratulated two of its officers on recent promotions and welcomed two more onto the force.
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Family, friends, retirees, and town dignitaries filled out the audience, in a ceremony punctuated by humorous one-liners from around the room and a few personal anecdotes about the officers being honored -- including one from Mayor Ellen L. Marmer, who was in attendance.
Lt. Paul Jabs' recent retirement, after 31 years of service, has resulted in a shifting of the ranks at the Police Department.
The addition of two new officers leaves the department 49 strong, with just two vacancies to fill.
Police Chief Rudolf Rossmy presented Officer Barry Foster with his new badge, effectively promoting him to the rank of sergeant. Foster has served with the Police Department since 1989.
"It makes me very happy and very proud," Rossmy told the crowd. "I have full confidence in his ability to do his job as a sergeant."
The ceremony proceeded with Sergeant Milton "Mel" Hardy moving up to lieutenant.
Hardy has served alongside Vernon police since the age of 14, when he participated in the Vernon Police Explorer program. He was also a member of the state police auxiliary, as well as a dispatcher, before joining the force in '87 and moving up to the rank of sergeant.
"Sergeant one second, lieutenant the next," as Rossmy put it.
Officers Kristen DiMauro and Lucas Gallant were introduced and sworn in as new officers.
DiMauro spent the past two years as an officer in Hebron, and before that served with the Enfield Police Department.
Gallant -- who is returning to his hometown of Vernon after serving as a police officer in Wells, Maine -- started the process as a high schooler with the Vernon Police Explorer program, much like Hardy.
"Now he's come back full circle," Rossmy said, "and we're very happy to have him."
The Explorer program is chartered by the Boy Scouts of America, and offers young people between the ages of 14 and 21 the opportunity to try out various careers with the support of professionals in the field.
The Police Explorer program has thrived in Vernon, and Post 800 has accumulated almost 500 alumni since its start in 1969. The Post currently has 13 members, who gain experience alongside Vernon police officers. A number of Explorers -- like Hardy and Gallant -- who go on to become full police officers.
"Many of these people that are being promoted and are coming in were with us as Police Explorers," said Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman Marie A. Herbst. "It's a marvelous thing. ..."
Anthony Litwin, Tawny Boulanger, Christopher Gothbert, and Josué Roldán were in agreement. All current members of the Post 800 Vernon Police Explorers, they were present, in uniform, at the ceremony Monday.
Litwin, 18, is a sergeant in Post 800. He explained that as Explorers, the youths staff community events such as fairs, accompany officers on ride-alongs, and may even attend a one-week regional Explorer Police Academy -- a scaled-down version of a professional police academy.
When Litwin, Boulanger, Gothbert, and Roldán were asked if they planned to pursue careers as full-time officers some day, they gave a collective affirmative.
Mel Hardy, for one, decided from his seven years in the Explorer program that he wanted to be a police officer.
"It was just such an impact on my life," he said.
"Mel used to spend more time at the Vernon PD as an Explorer than he did at home as a teenager," his mother, Ellen, confirmed. Hardy is now an advisor on the board of the Explorer program.
It was the same case for Luke Gallant. The experience from his years as an Explorer, he said, definitely gave him an edge when he started applying for officer positions.
"That's how you learn," Gallant said.
"You're just basically like a junior police cadet," Hardy explained.
Cadet one second, officer the next.
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©Journal Inquirer 2005
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