Norwich police promote two veteran officers
Norwich — Two veteran Norwich police officers have been promoted by Chief Patrick Daley.
Sgt. Christopher Merrill, a 16-year Norwich police veteran, has been promoted to lieutenant, and Detective Christopher Chastang, a 10-year Norwich police veteran, has been promoted to sergeant, filling Merrill’s position.
Merrill will be assigned as a patrol shift commander on the midnight shift. He has served as a patrol sergeant on the midnight, evening and day shifts and over the years has served in several capacities in the department, including as a marine officer on the boat patrol, field training officer, crisis intervention team patrol officer and recruitment officer.
He and his wife, Bridget, live in Colchester with their two children. He graduated from Ledyard High School in 1991 and graduated from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in justice and law administration. Prior to joining the Norwich department, Merrill was a police officer at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and an officer in the Willimantic Police Department, for a total of 22 years of experience in law enforcement.
Merrill has been the recipient of a number of commendations as a Norwich police officer, including the department’s highest award, the
Medal of Valor, as well as a medal for bravery, a medal for exceptional service and a unit citation from the Connecticut State Police. He also has 10 perfect attendance awards.
Merrill also is the recipient of the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association’s highest award, the Medal of Valor.
Sgt. Chastang also will be assigned to the midnight shift.
Chastang lives in Griswold with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. He is a 2002 graduate of Griswold High School and attended Three Rivers Community College, studying criminal justice. Prior to joining the Norwich department in 2010, he was employed as a police officer with the Department of Mental Health. He has served the Norwich department as a patrol officer in the community policing unit, as a marine/ harbor patrol officer, as a crisis intervention team member, sex offender registry liaison officer, detective, FBI violent crimes against children task force and on the internet crimes against children task force.
Throughout his career, Chastang has received several letters of commendation and recognition, including the Department of Justice United States Attorney Award for Community Policing in 2016.
Merrill and Chastang were selected from a large group of qualified officers after completing testing and assessment conducted by the city Human Resources Department, assisted by the Law Enforcement Council of Connecticut.