New Police Officer Moves On To Fairfield

A new Newtown police officer, who was sworn into office earlier this month and has been studying at the Municipal Police Academy in Meriden, is now instead expected to take a post with the Fairfield Police Department.

Antonio Granata, 22, of Norwalk, took the police oath of office April 4 in ceremonies at the police station.

Granata, however, has informed the police department he intends to take a post with the Fairfield Police Department, according to Detective Joe Joudy.

Det Joudy said Granata was expected to visit the police station April 21 to submit his resignation.

Granata has explained he opted to take the Fairfield post because it pays significantly more money and it is closer to his home than Newtown, according to Det Joudy. Granata would remain in training at the police academy, but be trained for Fairfield service instead of Newtown service.

Police will now start looking for candidates to fill the vacancy. The vacancy which Granata would have filled, was created by the recent resignation of Officer Patricia Tesla, who left Newtown to become a Stratford police officer.