The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A BOOST TO THE RANKS
Cheshire, New Haven, Plainville recruits join force
MIDDLETOWN — Three veteran police officers were sworn in as Middletown officers Friday in a wellattended ceremony in City Hall Council Chambers, bringing the ranks to 112.
Mayor Dan Drew administered the oath of office to Mark Kominske, Jason Bodell and Jeremy Tavares. The men, who hail from the Plainville, Cheshire and New Haven forces, respectively, recently completed 14 months of training at the police academy.
Each was vetted by a a team that included Professional Standards Division Sgt. Brian Hubbs and Capt. Patrick Howard before being interviewed by Chief William McKenna.
“If the candidates make it through those guys, it’s pretty simple for us to approve (them), because the vetting process is not that easy,” McKenna told those attending the proceedings, which included Superior Court personnel, family, friends, members of the city Public Safety Commission, and “most importantly, your future brothers and sisters,” he said.
Kominske is a 2009 Xavier High School graduate and grew up in Rocky Hill. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Middlesex Community College in Middletown and recently retired from the Plainville force. Kominske, who is neighbors with the chief, was pinned by his wife. He has worked in the patrol division, and has “extensive” training in traffic accident investigations, including as lead on several high-profile traffic accidents, McKenna said.
Middletown resident and retired New Haven police Detective Sgt. Ron Perry affixed Tavares’ badge to his suit. The lifelong Waterbury resident graduated from Southern Connecticut State University, where he was a “stand-out” soccer player, the chief said. Tavares was a semi-professional soccer player in France in 2009, and is now a youth soccer referee and coach in Cheshire. He was hired by New Haven police in 2014 and assigned to the patrol division. Later, Tavares served a six-month stint on the narcotics unit.
Bodell, whose wife brought along their 20-month-old daughter, is the department’s third officer from the Cheshire division. Several officers and fire personnel from Cheshire attended the ceremony for the East Providence, R.I., native.
McKenna told those gathered he’s not one to watch cop shows, but did get hooked on the New York crime drama “Blue Bloods” a year and a half ago. Bodell bears a striking resemblance to George R. Sheffey’s character John Ganley, he said. When he saw Bodell’s photograph included with his application, “I just pictured your family being around the table at Sunday dinner,” McKenna said.
“Bodell comes in and he gives a little history about growing up,” McKenna said, explaining his father is U.S. Department of Defense Police Maj. Michael J. Bodell, operations division officer in Newport, R.I.; and his great-grandfather and aunt were also law enforcement officers. Bodell joined the U.S. Coast Guard after high school from 2002-07, then enlisted in the reserves from 200716.
He was hired by Cheshire police in 2008 and joined the patrol and detective divisions. Bodell has field training experience and is heavily involved in charitable causes, including the Connecticut Special Olympics. “This is what really stood out in his chief’s interview,” McKenna said.
“It was a big decision for me and my family,” said Bodell, who is friends with a few MPD officers he hopes to draw upon for guidance in his new job.
The chief also announced his department has hired a new chaplain after its former clergyman passed away a couple years ago. Three individuals applied for the post, and Pastor Peter Zipf of Covenant Life church was selected.
MPD is budgeted for 115 officers, but lost a number recently to retirements, the chief said. Within a few months, he expects to have a full staff.
It’s important that two of the new recruits are familiar with the city, the chief said. “We always like giving back to people who have ties to Middletown. Whether they grew up here or worked here, they already have some connection to the community.
“While they’re out patrolling, it always helps policing-wise. If they run into someone they know, they can start off the conversation on a good note,” McKenna said.