Two Recruits Join The Police Department’s Patrol Roster

By Andrew Gorosko

The town has hired two new police officers for patrol duty, one of whom has 20 years of experience as a New York City policeman, and the other who is starting in the field of law enforcement.

In ceremonies on December 11, Town Clerk Cynthia Simon swore into office John McCluskey, 46, of Roxbury, and Steven Borges, 28, of Danbury.

Following remarks by Police Chief Michael Kehoe and Police Commission member Richard Simon, the recruits, their families, and friends had a reception at the Town Hall South conference room to mark the occasion. The two new hires bring the number of sworn town police officers to 44.

Chief Kehoe said that Officer McCluskey brings a wealth of law enforcement experience with him as he joins the Newtown Police Department, having served as a policeman for 20 years with the New York City Police Department. Officer McCluskey, who worked as a patrol lieutenant in midtown Manhattan, retired from the NYPD post in 2004.

New York City has a population of 8.2 million, as Newtown’s population approaches 28,000.

During his New York City career, Officer McCluskey received superior job performance evaluations from his supervisors, Chief Kehoe said.

 It is unusual for the town police department to hire a person with so much law enforcement experience, the police chief noted.

In January 1998, the police department hired Dana Schubert after he had served for 20 years as a policeman at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, retiring from that post as a sergeant. Officer Schubert is currently the department’s youth officer.

Although Officer McCluskey is well-versed in New York City law enforcement, certain legal requirements dictate that he be indoctrinated at Connecticut’s municipal police academy, so Officer McCluskey will be attending classes there with Officer Borges. Such training certifies the officers for law enforcement within this state.

“We wish him the best in his endeavors,” Chief Kehoe said of Officer McCluskey.

Officer McCluskey later explained that a friend of his had grown up in Newtown and had highly recommended the town as a place to work, so he applied for work when town police advertised to hire new patrol officers.

After having worked as a policeman for 20 years, he missed the activity and thus sought to re-enter the field, Officer McCluskey said. He is married and has three sons.

Chief Kehoe said Officer Borges formerly worked a sales representative for a private firm. He also worked as photographic model, posing for photos used in catalogs.

Officer Borges holds excellent communications skills, which are an important aspect of policing, Chief Kehoe said. Officer Borges is bilingual in English and Spanish.

A Danbury High School alumnus, Officer Borges later graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Chief Kehoe said he expects that Officer Borges will make a good transition from private business to law enforcement, noting that he is calm and even-tempered.

Officer Borges said he has long been interested in becoming a police officer. Being a Newtown police officer is a good opportunity for him, he said.

A recreational basketball player, Officer Borges enjoys physical activity and travel. He is married and has one child.

In the police hiring process, applicants who pass a written test are required to take a physical fitness test. Physical testing includes a 1.5-mile run, sit-ups, sit-and-reach exercises, and push-ups. Potential employees are subject to medical examinations, psychological testing, polygraph tests, and personal background checks. The lengthy police hiring process is designed to find people who are best suited for police work.

Following law enforcement training at the Connecticut Municipal Police Academy in Meriden, the two new officers will return to Newtown late next spring, after which they would undergo a course of field training. They are expected to assume independent patrol work late next summer.