Four State Troopers promoted to rank of Sergeant

In all, 15 decorated officers across Connecticut were honored for achievement

WESTBROOK » Four State Troopers stationed at the Troop F barracks were promoted to sergeant last week in a ceremony at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy in Meriden.

In all, 15 officers, including Sgts. Dean Aresco, Paul Gunn, David Luke and Judson Howes, were promoted from Trooper First Class and received their new assignments on Oct. 16 with Dr. Dora B. Schriro, Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and State Police Colonel Brian Meraviglia presiding, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman making remarks.

Aresco graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor of science and master of arts in exercise physiology. Upon graduating the Connecticut State Police Academy, he was assigned to Troop H in Hartford and then stationed at Troop F in Westbrook.

He is assigned to the CSP Training Academy as a staff instructor. His other duties included field training officer, accident reconstructionist, Cooper Fitness Institute Law Enforcement fitness specialist and rifle specialist.

Aresco is the son of Lt. Louis Aresco (retired) of the Middletown Police Department. His awards are: Outstanding Service Medal and Unit Citation Medal.

Gunn served in the U.S. Marine Corps while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Upon graduating the academy, he was assigned to Troop F in Westbrook.

He served as a Resident Trooper in Durham, Haddam and Old Lyme. Gunn’s other duties included field training officer and K-9 handler from 2001 to 2009 and has earned a life-saving medal, meritorious medal and four unit citation medals. Gunn is the son of Sgt. Charles Gunn (deceased) of the Connecticut State Police.

Luke served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was given the Wartime Veterans Medal. He graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in sociology and was a police officer for the Town of East Hampton and a juvenile cetention officer for the state of Connecticut. Upon graduating the academy, he was assigned to Troop K in Colchester for 12 years and Troop F for two years.

Luke’s other duties included East Haddam Resident Trooper, State Police Tactical Unit, State Police Dive Team and K-9 handler. He has earned a life-saving medal, meritorious medal, unit citation medal and the Sandy Hook Medal.

Howes served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a police officer for the Burlington Police Department in Vermont prior to joining the Connecticut State Police in 1997. After graduating, he was assigned to Troop I in Bethany and then Troop F in Westbrook, where served as a Resident Trooper in the Town of Old Lyme.

Howes also served in the CSP background unit and the special licensing and firearms unit. He is assigned to the firearms unit as a line instructor at the CSP Range in Avon and has earned a meritorious medal, outstanding service medal and unit citation medal.

Luke scored number one and Gunn scored number two in the testing process for Sergeant statewide. Approximately 170 Troopers tested for promotion.

TROOPER ERIC KELLY — SPECIAL TO THE PRESS From left are Sgts. Dean Aresco of Middletown and David Luke of Hebron, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Lt. Arthur Goodale, Commanding Officer of Troop F, and Sgts. Paul Gunn of Newington and Judson Howes of the Higganum section of Haddam.