The Police Commission has promoted three police officers following promotional testing and interviews with the candidates.

On Tuesday, December 2, following a two-hour executive session for deliberations on the promotions, the commission promoted David Kullgren from the rank of sergeant to lieutenant, Matthew Wood from the rank of patrolman to sergeant, and Scott Ruszczyk from the rank of patrolman to sergeant.

Commission members were unanimous in their vote on the promotions.

The promotions for Lieutenant Kullgren and Sergeant Wood have taken effect. Sergeant Ruszczyk’s promotion takes effect on May 1, 2015.

Police have scheduled a swearing-in event for the promotions of Lt Kullgren and Sgt Wood on the morning of Friday, December 5. Sgt Ruszczyk would be sworn in sometime in May.

Lt Kullgren, 44, joined the police department in December 2001. He was promoted from the rank of patrolman to sergeant in October 2010.

The lieutenant has served as a coordinator of the police department’s annual Citizen Police Academy, a free informational program on local law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

Before becoming a sergeant, he had been a member of the police department’s traffic enforcement unit. He also has worked as a member of the department’s accident reconstruction unit, and has been a member of the department’s crime prevention unit.

Lt Kullgren has training in hostage negotiations. He also helped formulate a study on police space needs. The lieutenant has been closely involved with the police department’s computer systems, in terms of installation and troubleshooting.

Lt Kullgren holds an associate degree in architectural engineering, plus a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. He has a master’s degree in law and public safety administration, with a minor in computer forensics administration, from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Sgt Wood, 39, joined the police department in July 2004. He has specialized in DUI enforcement. Sgt Wood has certification as a drug recognition expert (DRE), having learned through training about the physical effects that various drugs have on motorists who are stopped by police for investigations into possible cases of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

That training provides Sgt Wood with techniques designed to determine which of seven classes of drugs may be affecting intoxicated drivers.

Sgt Ruszczyk, 46, became in Newtown police officer in June 1993.

He is the president of the Newtown Police Union, the organization which represents 43 of the 45 police department’s sworn members in collective bargaining talks.

Sgt Ruszczyk’s promotion is being delayed until May 1, after police officers currently being trained at the Municipal Police Academy return to Newtown.