Three Police Officers Receive New Assignments

By Andrew Gorosko

Three officers in the town police department have been named to new assignments starting January 1 — the police dog handler, the administrative sergeant, and a traffic unit member.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe announced that Patrol Officer Felicia Figol has been named as the department’s new dog handler.

Patrol Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde has been assigned to the position of administrative sergeant.

Patrol Officer Jeffrey Silver will start work as a member of the two-person traffic unit.

Officer Figol, 40, joined the police department in July 2004. Ofc Figol formerly worked as a member of the Arizona Highway Patrol, where she spent more than six years. Ofc Figol was stationed at Williams, Ariz., where she was responsible for patrolling more than 120 miles of roadway. While an Arizona state trooper, Ofc Figol investigated motor vehicle accidents and criminal complaints. Ofc Figol is a certified drug recognition expert and a phlebotomist. Ofc Figol is originally from Connecticut.

Ofc Figol’s assignment as the dog handler came while the police department’s dog handler position was vacant due to Officer Andrew Stinson having been placed on paid administrative leave in mid-October.

Ofc Stinson, 34, is under investigation for possible criminal activity in connection with a significant amount of funds going missing from Newtown Police Union’s financial accounts while he formerly served as the union president.

(Sergeant Domenic Costello, 32, similarly is under investigation for possible criminal activity in connection with the union funds going missing while he formerly served as union treasurer. Sgt Costello also is on paid administrative leave. Both officers are being investigated by Danbury police on behalf of Newtown police.)

After receiving suitable training in dog handling, Ofc Figol is expected to work the second shift with the police’s German shepherd, Baro. The dog is trained to detect drugs, find missing persons, and apprehend suspects.

Eight police officers had applied for the dog handler assignment, from among whom Ofc Figol was selected for the post.

The dog has been kept at the Connecticut Army National Guard’s military dog kennel at Fairfield Hills following its return to police by Ofc Stinson in November.

Sgt Bahamonde, 39, who joined the police department in February 1993, will start work as the administrative sergeant on January 1. Sgt Bahamonde became a patrol sergeant in 2003.

In the administrative sergeant’s post, he will handle administrative tasks, similar to the work handled by the police department’s administrative lieutenant.

The administrative sergeant’s vacancy was created by the recent promotion of Christopher Vanghele from the post of administrative sergeant to administrative lieutenant. That lieutenant’s vacancy had been created by the retirement of James Mooney earlier this year.

Also, Ofc Silver will become a member of the traffic unit on January 1.

Ofc Silver, 33, joined the police department in May 1999. The vacancy in the traffic unit opened up recently with the promotion of David Kullgren from the post of patrol officer to the position of patrol sergeant.

The traffic unit conducts special traffic enforcement projects, performs traffic studies, and runs educational programs.

Ofc Silver has served as the police department’s commercial truck inspector for the past several years.