26 TROOPERS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT

AT CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE CEREMONY

            The Connecticut State Police promoted 26 Troopers to Sergeant during a ceremony at the State Police Training Academy on Friday, October 26.

            Department of Public Safety Commissioner John A. Danaher III and Colonel Thomas Davoren, Commanding Officer of the State Police, formally promoted 26 Troopers to the rank of Sergeant during the ceremony.

The following persons were promoted:

Sergeant Wilfred J. Blanchette III  Sgt. Blanchette was transferred from Trooper in the Eastern District Major Crime Squad and begins his new assignment at Troop K in Colchester.  During more than six years as a Trooper, Sgt. Blanchette has earned two Lifesaving awards, a Meritorious Service award, an Outstanding Service award and a Unit Citation award.  Sgt. Blanchette holds a bachelor’s degree and previously served 10 years in the Ledyard Resident Trooper’s Office. He lives with his wife and two children in Stonington.

Sergeant Kevin Boulier Sgt. Boulier was promoted from Trooper First Class/Detective in the State Police Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit and will now be assigned to Troop A in Southbury.  As a Trooper for more than 12 years, Sgt. Boulier earned a Lifesaving award and a Meritorious Service award.  He previously served four years of active duty in the Ai r Force and is a veteran of Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Shield/Storm.  Sgt. Boulier lives in Meriden with his wife and child.

Sergeant Kenneth A. Cain  Sgt. Cain was promoted from Trooper at Troop G in Bridgeport and has been assigned to Troop I in Bethany.   During more than six years as a Trooper, Sgt. Cain earned State Police awards for Lifesaving and for Meritorious Service. He is a graduate of the University of New Haven and lives in Guilford with his wife and two children.

Sergeant James Canon, Jr.  Sgt. Canon was promoted from Trooper First Class in the Central District Major Crime Squad and will now be assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit. In more than a decade as a Trooper, he has earned an award for Meritorious Service and four Unit Citation awards. Sgt. Canon is a graduate of Western New England College Law School and is a member of the Connecticut Bar. He is married with two children and resides in Windsor Locks.

Sergeant Michael Davis  Sgt. Davis was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop G in Bridgeport and has been assigned to Troop I in Bethany.  In 13 years of service to the State Police, Sgt. Davis earned a Unit Citation award. He previously served on the Statewide Narcotics Task Force. Sgt. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. He lives in West Haven with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Eric Dency  Sgt. Dency was promoted from Trooper First Class in the Joint Terrorism Task Force and has been assigned to Troop I in Bethany.  As a Trooper for 15 years, Sgt. Dency earned an Outstanding Service award and two Unit Citation awards.  He previously was assigned to the Statewide Narcotics Task Force and the Windham Heights Task Force. Sgt. Dency lives in Glastonbury with his wife and three children.

Sergeant Karl Golden, Jr.  Sgt. Golden was promoted from Trooper First Class and is being transferred from his present assignment as Harwinton Resident State Trooper to the State Police Internal Affairs Unit. In 18 years of service to the State Police, Sgt. Golden has earned an award for Meritorious Service and a Unit Citation award.  He previously served as a DARE instructor, a Field Training Officer and in the Western District Major Crime Squad. He is certified State Police motorcycle operator.  He lives with his wife in Torrington.

Sergeant Greg Guerra  Sgt Guerra was promoted from Trooper First Class in the Traffic Services Unit to Troop G in Bridgeport.   He has been a State Trooper for more than a decade.  Sgt. Guerra holds a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University and lives in Waterbury with his wife and child.

Sergeant Douglas Hall  Sgt. Hall was promoted from Trooper First Class and will remain in the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.  He has been a Trooper for more than 12 years and earned a State Police Unit Citation award. He also earned a Police Officer of the Year award from the Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office in 2006.  Sgt. Hall lives in Plainfield with his wife and four children.

Sergeant Todd Harbeck  Sgt. Harbeck was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop E in Montville and has been assigned to Troop F in Westbrook.  In more than seven years with the State Police, Sgt. Harbeck has earned awards for Outstanding Service and for Meritorious Service. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College and previously served in the West Warwick, RI Police Department.  Sgt. Harbeck has three children and resides in North Stonington.

Sergeant Todd Harmon  Sgt. Harmon was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop C in Tolland and will now be assigned to Troop D in Danielson. A Trooper for nearly 11 years, he has earned a Unit Citation award. Sgt. Harmon previously served as an Ellington Resident Trooper and was in the Army Reserves. He lives in Tolland with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Michael Hassett  Sgt. Hassett was promoted from Trooper First Class and most recently served as East Haddam Resident Trooper. He will be assigned to Troop E in Montville. As a Trooper for more than a decade, he has earned a Meritorious Service award and a Unit Citation award.   He has served as a Field Training Officer & as a DARE Officer and is a U.S. Army veteran. He lives in Portland with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Robert Janco  Sgt. Janco was promoted from Trooper First Class and will be transferred from his present assignment as North Canaan Resident Trooper to Troop L in Litchfield.  In more than 14 years as a Trooper, Sgt. Janco earned a State Police award for Outstanding Service. Sgt. Janco was previously assigned to Troop L in Litchfield. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. Sgt. Janco is married with three children and lives in New Hartford.

Sergeant James Keeney  Sgt. Keeney was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop K and has been assigned to Troop E in Montville.  During his 17-year career as a Trooper, he has earned a State Police award for Meritorious Service and five awards from MADD. Sgt. Keeney previously served as Ellington Resident State Trooper, Hebron Resident Trooper, as a DARE instructor and at Troop H in Hartford and Troop C in Tolland. He resides in Andover with his wife and three children.

Sergeant Paul Lussier  Sgt. Lussier was promoted from Trooper First Class and will transfer from his present assignment as Essex Resident Trooper to Troop E in Montville.  During his 17 years as a Trooper, Sgt. Lussier has earned a Meritorious Service award and a Unit Citation award.  Sgt. Lussier previously served as North Stonington Resident Trooper and is certified as an Accident Reconstructionist. He holds a bachelor’s degree. Sgt. Lussier is married and lives in Groton with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Walter Melfi  Sgt. Melfi was promoted from Trooper First Class/Detective in the Western District Major Crime Squad and has been assigned to Troop L in Litchfield. A Trooper for more than 18 years, Sgt. Melfi previously served as Beacon Falls Resident Trooper, as a School Resource Officer and as an Accident Reconstructionist. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Haven. Sgt. Melfi lives in Woodbury with his wife and three children.

Sergeant David Montini Sgt. Montini was promoted from Trooper First Class/Detective in the Western District Major Crime Squad and will be assigned to Troop G in Bridgeport. Sgt. Montini has been a Trooper for nine years and has earned three Unit Citation awards. A former Meriden Police Officer, Sgt. Montini earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Southbury with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Eric Mullai Sgt. Mullai was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop G in Bridgeport and has been assigned to Troop A in Southbury.  Sgt. Mullai has been a State Trooper for more than a decade and was previously assigned to Troop A in Southbury.  Sgt. Mullai holds a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the Army National Guard. Sgt. Mullai is the father of three and lives in Bridgeport.

Sergeant Jeffrey P. Norkus  Sgt. Norkus was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop A in Southbury and his new assignment is at Troop B in North Canaan. A State Trooper for nearly 11 years, Sgt. Norkus earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University. He served in active duty in the US Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm. He lives in Waterbury.

Sergeant Michael O’Donnell Sgt. O’Donnell was promoted from Trooper First Class and will transfer from his present assignment as Roxbury Resident Trooper to Troop L in Litchfield.  Sgt. O’Donnell has been with the State Police for 12 years and previously served at Troop L in Litchfield and Troop A in Southbury. He is a DARE officer and a Field Training Officer. He lives in Prospect.

Sergeant Matthew J. Richardson  Sgt. Richardson was promoted from Trooper First Class/Detective with the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force and has been assigned to Troop A in Southbury.  A Trooper for nearly a decade, he has earned a State Police award for Meritorious Service.  Sgt. Richardson served as a Field Training Officer and at Troop I in Bethany and Troop F in Westbrook.  Sgt. Richardson holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and paralegal certification from Albertus Magnus College. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Sgt. Richardson is married with two children and resides in Southington.

Sergeant Alexander Rios  Sgt. Rios was promoted from Trooper First Class/Detective in the Central District Major Crime Squad to his new assignment at Troop H in Hartford.  Sgt. Rios has been a Trooper with the State Police for more than a decade.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. He lives in Manchester with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Kevin Ryan  Sgt. Ryan was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop H in Hartford and has been assigned to Troop K in Colchester.  Sgt. Ryan has been a Trooper for more than 13 years and earned a Lifesaving award from the State Police. He also has won an award from MADD. Previously, Sgt. Ryan served at Troop C in Tolland and as Stafford Resident Trooper. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University and lives in Ellington with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Todd Stevens  Sgt. Stevens was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop D in Danielson to Troop E in Montville.  As a Trooper for more a decade, Sgt. Stevens has earned three awards for Outstanding service and three Unit Citations. He lives in Woodstock with his wife and two children.

Sergeant Donna Tadiello  Sgt. Tadiello was promoted from Trooper First Class at Troop H in Hartford to Troop I in Bethany.  A Trooper for more than a decade, Sgt. Tadiello has earned awards for Outstanding service and for Meritorious service. Sgt. Tadiello has served the State Police as a canine handler, as an instructor at the training academy, as East Haddam Resident Trooper and as a spokesperson in the Public Information Office. She also spent more than three years with the Plainville Police Department. Sgt. Tadiello holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and lives in South Windsor.

Sergeant Dwight Washington  Sgt. Washington was promoted from Trooper First Class in the State Police Computer Crime and Electronics Evidence Laboratory to Troop H in Hartford.  A Trooper for more than 17 years, Sgt. Washington has earned an award for Meritorious Service, as well as a Unit Citation award. He has more than 21 years of military service and is currently a Captain in the National Guard. Sgt. Washington lives in Bloomfield with his wife and two children.

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