The Newtown Police Department welcomed its two newest officers — Kevin Poruban and Kurt Kling — during a swearing in ceremony on May 1.

The two officers will be attending police academy for six months before officially joining the force.

Police Chief David Kullgren said Poruban is a Norwalk native and Norwalk High School graduate. He has been serving in the Connecticut Army National Guard since 2009, and is currently a staff sergeant in Westbrook.

Kling is a Newtown resident and Newtown High School graduate who has been serving in the US Air Force for the past six years, and is also at the rank of staff sergeant.

“This is a moment that will be etched in your memory,” Kullgren told the men Wednesday afternoon. “The oath is not a formality but a sacred commitment. You will be held to a higher standard, that you chose willingly.”

Kullgren told Poruban and Kling to always honor their oath, their badge, their fellow officers, and their community.

First Selectman Jeff Capeci called the officers the new “guardians of the community” and said they had chosen a path of “courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the safety” of the town’s residents.

“Being an officer is not merely a profession but a calling to make better the lives of the people of Newtown,” said Capeci. “The badge is not just a symbol of authority but of trust; wield the power with fairness, compassion, and integrity.”

Poruban said being sworn in felt “amazing.”

“I’m excited, eager to get to the academy, and even more excited to be a member of the Newtown community,” said Poruban.

Kling called the swearing in “a dream come true.”

Both officers took the oath of honor, which states, “On my honor, I will never Betray my integrity, my character Or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold the values of my community, and the agency I serve.” Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead swore in the new officers.

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Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.