Former State Troopers Applying for Work in Stratford

Some recent out-of-work state troopers may find employment again as officers with the Stratford Police Department.

Five or six of the 11 applicants who will be taking a written exam on Oct. 4 for a spot in the town's understaffed police force are former state troopers, Acting Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said at Tuesday's public safety committee meeting.

"I'm sure we aren't the only department that has state troopers applying," he said. "It's a win-win for both of us."

Back in July, as part of his plan to balance the state's two-year budget and close a $1.6 billion shortfall, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent out 57 layoff notices to Connecticut state troopers. Those layoffs started to take effect on Aug. 24, according to a state police spokesman.

Ridenhour said the police department's staff is budgeted for 104 but a string of recent retirements has personnel at 93. Twenty-five-year Stratford Police Department veteran Lt. James Heffernan was the latest officer to retire, he said, adding that the decrease in staff has forced the department to move people around. 

"Over the last several months we have had to slightly reduce some personnel in special assignments," he said. "But there has been little to no overall impact on services to the public."

As a result of the roughly 10 percent staff shortage, Lt. Maurice "Mo" Scioletti said School Resource Officers (SROs) have had to go on patrol instead of leading summer community outreach programs, and the department's four-man staff of Community Resource Officers (CROs) or "street cops" has been cut to two.

"[CROs] are in the forefront of neighborhood problems," said Scioletti. "When an area is having an issue, they concentrate that area by establishing relationships."

Although the department could hire all 11 if they pass the written exam, which tests knowledge of Connecticut laws and statutes, Ridenhour said the best-case scenario would be to hire five or six officers to join the force. He said along with the state troopers are candidates coming from other town's and city's police departments.

Being already certified patrol officers, any of the approved applicants could start right away, Ridenhour said. This alternative to bringing up an officer through the ranks with months of training at the academy serves as a quick fix before staffing can happen at the entry level, he said. 

"Any new hires will help backfill our patrol division and may reduce some of our overtime," Ridenhour said.

In addition, a fortified patrol division means the resource officers Scioletti referred to could go back to their special assignments. 

"This will allow adequate coverage and keep officers fresh and healthy both here at the police department and home with their families," Scioletti said.

What do you think of the potential new hires? Tell us in the comments section below.