Police Commission Assigns Detective Sergeant, Selects Patrol Sergeant

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission has assigned a veteran police officer to the post of detective sergeant and has named a patrolman to the position of patrol sergeant.

Following closed session discussions on October 3, Police Commission members assigned Patrol Sergeant John Cole to be the police department’s new detective sergeant. Commission members also promoted Patrol Officer Richard Robinson to the rank of patrol sergeant.

Both positions took effect on October 4, said Police Chief Michael Kehoe.

Detective Sergeant Cole has served as a patrol sergeant since 1999. He has been a member of the police department for more than 15 years.

While a patrol sergeant, Det Sgt Cole, supervised field training for police recruits. He also oversaw operations at the town’s animal shelter.

 Det Sgt Cole replaces Robert Tvardzik as the supervisor of the police department’s eight-member detective division. Mr Tvardzik retired as a police officer in July.

As head of the detective division, Det Sgt Cole will oversee, long-term complex investigations and serve as a police department liaison with other law enforcement agencies. The unit includes four detectives, two school resource officers, a youth officer, and the police department’s member of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force.

 Of Det Sgt Cole’s assignment, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said, “All the candidates were very qualified and he was the best qualified for the post.” Three sergeants were in the running for the position.

“He [Cole] certainly brings a lot of experience in the detective division,” Chief Kehoe said. In the past, Det Sgt Cole worked rotating stints as a detective. He also was assigned to the narcotics task force.

Det Sgt Cole received excellent performance reviews from his superiors and is a committed and dedicated police officer, Chief Kehoe said.

Patrol Sergeant Robinson was among three police patrol officers who were in the running for the promotion to sergeant.

Sgt Robinson fills the sergeant’s vacancy created by Det Sgt Cole’s new assignment.

Officer Robinson has been a town patrol officer since October 1998.

Chief Kehoe described Sgt Robinson as “highly competent, intelligent, even-mannered, even-tempered.”

The police chief said Sgt Robinson is a dedicated police officer who is committed to the law enforcement organization.

“I think he’ll do extremely well,” Chief Kehoe said. All three candidates for the sergeant’s post are very good police officers, the chief said.

The Police Commission conducted interviews in closed session with the three candidates for patrol sergeant on October 3.

In 2005, Sgt Robinson received the highest test score among more than two dozen Fairfield County police officers who took the Fairfield County Detective Conference course on advanced police detective techniques. Course content included arson, explosives, juvenile law, crime scene investigation techniques, computer crime, identity theft, arrest warrant application procedures, and revisions to criminal law, among others.