The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Veteran police officer joins department
CROMWELL >> The town’s newest police officer is a veteran of law enforcement who brings a wealth of experience that he can impart to the department’s cadre of young officers.
Mark C. Gery was sworn in at the atrium of Town Hall last week, an event that attracted several of Gery’s former colleagues as well as many of the men and women he will now serve alongside.
In his welcoming remarks, Mayor Enzo Faienza told Gery, “You’re joining a wonderful group of officers, with a wonderful chief and captain and sergeants.”
Gery began his career in law enforcement in Woodbridge, then moved on to North Branford — where he grew up — and finally landed at the Hamden Police Department.
Gery retired from the Hamden station last year, closing out a 17year career in law enforcement. But Gery said he still felt the tug of continuing police work and the desire “to take on new challenges.” And so he began “looking at what was out there.”
“Cromwell seemed like a town I could settle in and to bring my experience to,” Gery said. “And so I was more than willing to make the commitment. I was lucky they took me onboard, and for that I am loyal and thankful.”
As a certified officer, Gery will not have to attend the police academy as a new rookie officer would. But he will undergo a three-week field training process during which he will work with a Cromwell officer to learn the department’s policies and procedures — and familiarize himself with the town.
The last certified officer who transferred into the department was Elizabeth Palmerie, who came onboard in 2014.
When Cromwell police began a routine background check on Gery, Police Chief Denise Lamontagne said, “I had a number of people who reached out to me” in support of Gery’s hiring. One of those people wrote a letter to Lamontagne, in which he described Gery as someone “who is honest, with a personal and professional reputation which is beyond reproach.”
“I’m very happy to have Mark join the department, as his experience will be a benefit to our department,” Lamontagne said.
Gery was sworn in by Town Clerk Joan Ahlquist. He then had his bright silver badge pinned on his jacket by a longtime friend, Hartford Police Lt. Frank McDermid.
“He married my cousin,” Gery said with sly grin. “I want to thank everyone for showing up, including many of my new colleagues. I appreciate this opportunity and I promise I won’t let down the community or the police department. And I will represent you all.”
The audience for the ceremony included Deputy Mayor Richard R. Newton, councilors Frank Emanuele Jr. and Samantha Slade, Town Manager Anthony J. Salvatore and any number of town employees.
No one in his family had worked in law enforcement, but “as long I can remember, this is what I wanted to do,” Gery said following the ceremony. He low-keyed his accomplishment, saying, “I helped out on the canine program and I was a member of Statewide Narcotics Task Force.”
Then, almost as an afterthought, Gery mentioned he was “officer of the year last year in Hamden.”
Gery lives with his rescue dog, Trosha, “a Shepherd with a little mix of Lab.”
About joining the department, Gery said, “My feeling is God puts you where He want you to be.”