Second resident state trooper starts getting to know Preston

Garrett Boehm quickly makes a good impression

Preston — During his first week as the town’s second resident state trooper, Garrett Boehm toured both town schools, checked on an elderly couple during the storm at the request of a family member, stopped in at the selectmen’s office and attended Thursday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

First Selectman Robert Congdon said the difference between having a resident trooper and resorting to regular state police patrols was evident in just that first week.

“We didn’t have to tell him to meet with the superintendent,” Congdon said at the start of Thursday’s selectmen’s meeting. “He’d already been to the schools and met with the superintendent, and checked in with (the selectmen’s office). We had a call from a woman who has elderly parents in town asking if we could check on her parents.”

Superintendent Roy Seitsinger said Boehm’s interaction with the schools was “outstanding” in his first week.

“In the short time he has been on board, he has met with administration, toured both buildings, examined outside spaces and made his presence known in a positive and affirming manner,” Seitsinger said. “He has offered insight into our safety planning and been available for any questions. He is an excellent addition to our trooper team.”

Boehm, 32, of Waterford, is on temporary duty as Preston’s second resident state trooper, a position approved in a Feb. 6 referendum to run through the remainder of the current fiscal year. The Board of Selectmen approved a proposed 2018-19 town government budget last week that includes the second resident trooper. The Board of Finance will begin reviewing the budget at its 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday.

If the position is retained in next year’s budget, a statewide application process will be done to fill the post permanently.

Boehm will work the day shift Monday through Friday, while veteran Preston Resident State Trooper Armando Bettini will work the evening shift, five days on, three days off, providing some weekend patrols in town.

Although he works evenings, Bettini will be the official DARE officer for the revived 10-week program for fifth-graders set to start Monday, Bettini told selectmen Thursday. Preston schools haven’t had a DARE program in several years, and Bettini said it “has been reinvented” from its previous sole focus on drug resistance to include bullying and cyberbullying and social media pressures.

Boehm grew up in Waterford and still lives in town with his wife, 14-month old daughter “who is tearing up the house,” and their golden retriever. Boehm served in the U.S. Coast Guard and now is in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Boehm started his police career as a Montville town police officer for 5½ years. In June 2013, he attended the State Training Police Academy and then worked for three years as a state trooper at Troop D in Danielson. Most recently, he was assigned to Troop E in Montville before accepting the Preston resident trooper assignment.

Boehm said he wasn’t familiar with the town, but has been learning fast.

“I’ve been in the schools, on the roads and handled a couple of calls,” he said.

“He has offered insight into our safety planning and been available for any questions. He is an excellent addition to our trooper team.” SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ROY SEITSINGER