Police Department Swears In A New Officer

By Andrew Gorosko

Michael McGowan, 27, of Middletown was sworn in as the town’s newest police patrol officer in ceremonies before family and friends at the police station Monday afternoon.

Town Clerk Cynthia Curtis Simon administered the oath of office to Mr McGowan, as Acting Police Chief Michael Kehoe looked on in the police roll call room.

 Mr McGowan began work as a police officer October 20, after leaving a job as a fitness consultant in Cromwell. 

Mr McGowan, who is unmarried, grew up in Newtown and attended Sandy Hook School, Newtown Middle School, and Newtown High School.

A University of New Haven graduate, he has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and law enforcement.

Mr McGowan is the son of Joseph McGowan, a former member of the Legislative Council.

In remarks after Mr McGowan was sworn into office, Acting Chief Kehoe said Mr McGowan will face challenges as a police officer, the first of which is attending a 20-week police training course at the state’s Municipal Police Academy in Meriden. Mr McGowan starts at the police academy October 27.

Following the academy, he returns to Newtown for 16 weeks of field training to familiarize him with local police patrol work.

 “We expect the best from Michael,” Acting Chief Kehoe said, noting that he finished at the “top of the class” in the police department’s hiring process. The acting chief said Mr McGowan’s performance was “head and shoulders” above that of the other applicants.

The Police Commission chose Mr McGowan from the 131 people who submitted job applications last summer. The commission interviewed more than 30 job applicants in narrowing the field.

As he handed him his badge, Acting Chief Kehoe told Mr McGowan there is much to learn in becoming a police officer.

 “Congratulations and the best of luck to you,” the acting chief told the recruit.

Mr McGowan said becoming a policeman is the culmination of six years of effort on his part. He said that although he had had some doubts about whether to pursue a police career, it is now apparent that his work toward that goal was more than worth the effort involved.

Noting the presence of his family and many friends in Newtown, he said it is good to return to the town where he grew up.

Besides Mr McGowan, the Police Commission has chosen Thomas Bean, 25, of Watertown to become a police patrolman.

 “They’re both very qualified candidates. We think they’ll do well… They have a genuine interest in law enforcement,” Acting Chief Kehoe has said of the men.  “They can communicate. They’re good listeners… They are able to problem solve,” he said.

Mr Bean will start work in November. Mr Bean has worked at the police department as a dispatcher since June 1999. Mr Bean, who is married, is a member of the Watertown Volunteer Fire Department. He has worked as a retail store manager. He is a graduate of Kaynor Regional Vocational Technical School in Waterbury and St Joseph’s Elementary School in Waterbury.

In the current round of hiring, the town plans to select up to five people for patrol officer vacancies.

Hiring five people will bring the police department roster up from 36 to 41 members. As of January 1, 2001, the department will be authorized to hire a 42nd officer.

The starting salary for new patrol officers is $34,848 annually. The salary increases to $47,969 over five years.