EW Police Department adds 3 to rolls
By: Kory Loucks, Journal Inquirer
12/15/2006
EAST WINDSOR - Thursday was a proud and happy day for three police recruits and their families and for the Police Department.
Two of the men are completely new to police service, while the third is a transfer from Massachusetts.
Andrew Tudryn has been an officer for four years in Longmeadow, Mass.
Tudryn is considered a comparative lateral transfer, Sgt. Michael Hannaford said, which means he still has to take certain state-required classes.
Nickolas Holliday and Dwaine Jones Jr. are new recruits and will be attending the police academy for the next six months.
Police Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. addressed the three recruits and their families and friends gathered at La Renaissance banquet facility Thursday, saying, "I have hired a lot of police officers and this is really the best group as far as candidates I have ever come across."
Of 103 applicants who sought the positions, the department narrowed the choice down to the three who were sworn in Thursday by Town Clerk Karen W. Gaudreau.
Also in attendance were selectmen Thomas Sinsigallo and Gilbert Martin, as well as the Police Commission and other East Windsor police officers.
"I can make a promise that this is absolutely the best profession in the world," DeMarco told the new officers. "I can promise you will work weekends, nights, holidays, and absolutely in wind and snow. I promise you will be challenged.
"And I promise you, you will be supported by the Police Commission to fulfill our mission to help and serve the residents of this community."
DeMarco added, "By accepting this badge I want you to promise never to do anything to sully your reputation."
DeMarco attributed the exceptional caliber of the candidates to their families and their upbringing, surmising that their families must have done excellent job raising them.
Jones, 33, said after receiving his badge, "It feels really good."
He always wanted to be a police officer, but instead worked for his father's construction business. But he eventually decided to pursue his lifelong dream.
"I finally decided to go for it," Jones said.
Jones and his wife Laura are the parents of two-year-old twins.
While Jones is attending the Connecticut Police Academy in Middletown, he will be away from home Monday through Friday for at least 22 weeks, leaving his wife to care for the well-behaved but rambunctious toddlers on her own.
However, she appeared unfazed, saying she has plenty of family support, and observing that his being away is for a good reason.
She added with a smile, "I am extremely proud because I know this is going to make him extremely happy."
Holliday, 23, served for four years in Iraq before joining the East Windsor Police Department.
"It is another stepping stone," said Holliday of his new career. "I joined the army with the eventual goal of becoming a police officer."
When asked why he chose East Windsor, knowing other communities are also seeking officers, Holliday said: "This is a growing community. I understood it was understaffed, and decided this is where I wanted to be."
Tudryn applied for the job because he likes the town of East Windsor, he said.
"Before I signed on I met with patrolmen here and I got along with them really well. I heard a lot of good things about the police department," he said.
Tudryn said Longmeadow is smaller geographically, and just slightly larger in population, than East Windsor.
Because Tudryn is transferring from another state he will be going to the police academy for a shorter period, taking classes at their comparative compliance school, he said.
"I am very excited," Tudryn added.
Police Commission member Linda Sinsigallo said, "They are a wonderful group of young men. We need younger blood coming up through the ranks to protect the town."
Chief DeMarco concluded, "I am just happy to have such quality candidates to help us with our community-oriented service."
©Journal Inquirer 2006
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