Longtime Police Officers Promoted To Lieutenant, Sergeant

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission has promoted two longtime town police officers to higher rank, naming Christopher Vanghele, 40, to the post of lieutenant, and elevating David Kullgren, 40, to the position of sergeant.

The promotions came at an October 5 Police Commission session, following closed-door commission interviews with three officers who were seeking the lieutenant’s job, and three other officers who sought the sergeant’s post.

The lieutenant’s vacancy occurred after James Mooney’s recent retirement from the police department. Mr Mooney, 45, who served at the police department for more than 25 years, now works as an emergency radio dispatcher for the Town of Brookfield. At his request, the Police Commission recently appointed Mr Mooney as a special police officer for Newtown.

Mr Vanghele formerly served as the police department’s administrative sergeant. With his elevation to the lieutenant’s post, a sergeant’s vacancy was created, resulting in Mr Kullgren becoming a patrol sergeant. Another patrol sergeant on the staff will soon be assigned to the post of administrative sergeant.

The police department is authorized to have 47 members. It currently has 45 staffers. There are two lieutenants and eight sergeants. Promotions in rank are based on the results of competitive written and oral tests.

Lt Vanghele has had many roles at the police department since he was hired in June 1993. He worked as the school resource officer at both Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School. He became a patrol sergeant in 1999.

Lt Vanghele ran the police department’s Citizen’s Police Academy program for seven years. He also has written grant applications for the department. He has been an instructor for police on domestic violence issues, and has supervised the police department’s child safety seat unit.

Additionally, he has overseen the police awards and decorations committee. Also, he has been a police instructor on the use of the “intoxilyzer” breath alcohol analysis device.

The lieutenant also has worked on the police department’s accreditation process. Named the department’s administrative sergeant in June 1999, he has supervised the local traffic enforcement unit.

Currently, Lt Vanghele is serving as the department’s administrative lieutenant. The other lieutenant, George Sinko, now works as the operations lieutenant.

Lt Vanghele explained that in his new post, his duties will include serving as the department’s training officer, scheduling manager, and accreditation manager.

He added that he has long wanted to become a lieutenant. “This is not just a job…I want to be a career law enforcement officer,” he said. “It’s a natural progression of wanting to better myself, and to better the department, which in turn would better serve the community.”

Lt Vanghele said he expects that his wide experience at the police department will prove useful to him in his lieutenancy. “I think I have the right management attitude,” he added. Lt Vanghele said he will treat the people with whom he works with dignity and respect, listening to their points of view. “I see myself as a motivator, as a teacher,” he said.

“We [police] have a very clear and distinct mission statement…We’re here to serve this community and to improve the quality of life of the citizens,” he said.

Lt Vanghele offered this motto: “Take each day as it comes and always remember that your job is to serve the public, to make the people who live in this town safe and secure.”

Lt Vanghele said that in his new post he will function as a “manager” rather than as a “supervisor,” which is the role of a sergeant. Lieutenants hold more responsibility and address a broader range of issues than sergeants, he said.

He said he wants to have the police department achieve all three levels of police accreditation. The department currently holds the first level of accreditation.

Lt Vanghele holds a bachelors degree in English from the University of Connecticut. He also has received advanced training in law enforcement management.

An avid reader of all types of subject matter, Lt Vanghele is married and has two children.

Sgt Kullgren

Sgt Kullgren started work as a town police officer in December 2001.

Most recently, he worked as a member of the police department’s two-person traffic enforcement unit, often patrolling town in an unmarked police car on the lookout for traffic violations. Besides traffic enforcement, the traffic unit conducts studies on local traffic issues.

The sergeant is a member of the accident reconstruction unit, which investigates serious motor vehicle accidents.

The sergeant has worked in the department’s crime prevention unit. Sgt Kullgren said he has enjoyed working in the field of crime prevention, an activity that allows police to meet the proactive members of public. Building such police-public relationships is satisfying, he said.

Also, Sgt Kullgren has training in hostage negotiations. He also has helped formulate a study on police space needs.

Sgt Kullgren has been closely involved with the police department’s new computer system, regarding its installation and also providing troubleshooting services.

Of his elevation to the post of sergeant, Sgt Kullgren said, “I’m still trying to soak it in,” after having spent years working as a patrolman.

“Overall, I’m very excited about the new post, excited about the challenge that comes with new responsibilities,” he said.

In the coming few weeks, he will be undergoing an initial training program for new sergeants, he explained.

The new post will involve a period of transition, he noted, explaining that it had taken him about six months to become comfortable in the role of a patrolman. Sgt Kullgren said he expects the period of transition from patrolman to sergeant will last between six months and one year.

“I want to encourage the espirit de corps to develop and grow…We have a phenomenal staff here .. I want to help foster camaraderie and devotion to accomplish our department’s goals and objectives,” Sgt Kullgren said.

Police work has become a more complex occupation over the years, he said, adding that the legalities that police face are more now involved than in the past.

“There’s a lot to know…We’re wearing many hats…Our duties have expanded over the years,” he said.

Sgt Kullgren holds an associate’s degree in architectural engineering, plus a bachelor 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 Kullgren said he enjoys recreational scuba diving, pursuing that activity at Candlewood Lake and at the Florida Keys. The sergeant formerly worked in the area of marine enforcement for the Candlewood Lake Authority.

Sgt Kullgren is married and has five children.