The Connecticut State Police today graduated 28 new State Troopers, all members of the 128th Training Troop.
Congratulations to Bret Pikul and Matthew Smith of Danbury
Colonel Stavros Mellekas, Commander of the State Police, and James C. Rovella, Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, congratulated the graduating class during a ceremony in Welte Auditorium at Central Connecticut State University. Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz also addressed the graduates.
The 128th Training Troop entered the Connecticut State Police Training Academy on July 5, 2019, and completed more than 1,500 hours of training. Much of that time was spent on physical conditioning, classroom work, water rescue, driving and other specialized areas of police work.
The 28 members of this class began the process of becoming State Troopers more than a year ago. At that time, they applied for the positions, took the written test and the physical fitness assessment, along with observational and polygraph tests.
Among the 28graduates:
5 have military experience
4 have prior law enforcement experience
11 have bachelor degrees
2 have graduate degrees
Members of the 128th Training Troop have diverse backgrounds, training and experience. The youngest member of the class is 23 years old and the oldest is 39 years old.
At their graduation Thursday, the newest Troopers were sworn in by Colonel Mellekas and assigned to one of 11 State Police troops located throughout Connecticut. Troopers will be assigned as follows:
Troop C, Tolland – 2 new Troopers
Troop E, Montville – 1 new Trooper
Troop F, Westbrook – 1 new Trooper
Troop G, Bridgeport – 5 new Troopers
Troop H, Hartford – 6 new Trooper
s Troop I, Bethany – 4 new Troopers
Troop K, Colchester – 1 new Trooper
Troop L, Litchfield – 1 new Trooper
The following Troopers graduated on January 16, 2020:
Nicholas Alisi Litchfield
Roberto Antonucci Stamford
Peter Atwood Thomaston
Chandler Chasse East Hartford
Alvin Chen Manchester
Mark Dennis Manchester
Daniel Dowsett Milford
Kyle Faucher Avon
Rob Flanigan Granby
Jordan Gomes Thomaston
Joseph Gookin Canterbury
Ewerton Gouveia Waterbury
Matthew Harrington Harwinton
Horatio Hinds Shelton
Patrick Lewis Voluntown
Lukasz Lipert Enfield
Krystopher Lotocky Waterbury
Jacob Messier Coventry
Joshua Muckle Uncasville
Andrew Murphy Bethel
Jeffrey Norton Norwalk
Andrew Orzech New Preston
Wayne Perritt Manchester
Bret Pikul Danbury
Alexander Ricciardi New Britain
Matthew Smith Danbury
Michael Trudeau Beacon Falls
Jonathan Walker Madison