Newtown Police Department held a celebration for the retirement of Sergeant Doug Wisentaner with a ceremony at the department’s headquarters on July 1.

A large group of friends, family, and colleagues gathered to honor Wisentaner, who had served at Newtown Police Department since 1994. It was noted during the event that he had been sworn in on July 1, meaning his official retirement was 31 years to the day.

First Selectman Jeff Capeci dedicated July 1 as “Doug Wisentaner Day,” and invited every citizen to honor his dedication to the safety of the public.

Wisentaner started his career in Chatham, Mass., but soon came to Newtown where he started as an officer. He was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2001, and had held that role with distinction, it was noted. In 2003, he served as a SWAT commander.

Wisentaner has earned myriad awards in his time, including the MADD Award, which recognizes individuals’ efforts to stop drunk and drugged driving.

NPD Chief David Kullgren recounted Wisentaner’s history at the police department, calling him a strong and helpful leader to others.

Kullgren shared a story about Wisentaner taking him under his wing when he was first sworn in as an officer. Wisentaner made sure Kullgren was able to become a great police officer, the current chief said.

“Doug is dependable and a true leader. His steady presence was always unwavering and his commitment was the backbone of this department,” Kullgren shared in his speech. “Doug always prioritized his family. Building a foundation of love and support transferred over to the department as well.”

Kullgren then gifted Wisentaner with a “Newtown Family Tree,” which had the names of everyone Wisentaner had an impact on, or who had an impact on him. The retiree was also gifted two shadow boxes with memorabilia from his time as an officer in Newtown.

A video of Wisentaner’s life as an officer and his impact on Newtown was then screened. The room was filled with laughs and sighs as pictures of the retrospective covered events from his first year as a police officer to recent moments, including when he was given his 30-year certificate in 2024.

Everyone then traveled outside where Wisentaner sat in a police cruiser for his final radio call.

Newtown Director of Emergency Communications Maureen Will delivered the radio call, a message that honored Wisentaner and his dedicated work as a police officer.

“Newtown to all cars and personnel, Sgt Wisentaner has signed out of service for the last time. Through the good times and the bad, from the dark days of 12/14 through the highs and lows of hurricanes, blizzards and COVID, your voice was the voice of calm and reason. That voice that made us all take a breath and know it will be okay,” Will stated over the air.

After the call was completed, everyone took photos, including the entire police force, who gathered around the police cruiser with Wisentaner and Kullgren in the center.

Will later shared the impact Wisentaner made on her and her fellow dispatchers.

“I always saw him as the calm voice in the storm,” she told The Newtown Bee. “When we heard him as the dispatchers, we knew everything would be okay. I watched him in action on 12/14. He is a true leader, always has been and always will be.

“I’ve made the final call about five or six times, and every time it doesn’t get easier. I’m happy for him but sad for us,” Will added.

In addition, the union president for the police department, Adam Greco, sent in a letter to the editor to commemorate three officers who recently retired from the department. Officer John McCluskey and Officer Felicia Figol, who is a part of the canine unit, were also celebrated.

Greco said Wisentaner “has given us 31 amazing years. An old-school, encyclopedic mentor to anyone humble enough to receive it has been the backbone of the patrol unit for decades.

“Wisentaner, whose unmistakable accent betrays his origins from the Cape, has been the unshakable calm in the storm countless times throughout the years during incidents that would unnerve the most veteran among us,” Greco wrote in part.

He also offered his thanks for all three of the retirees and their service.

“I doubt most people will ever know that their community, which sleeps well at night and goes about their business during the day, does so with men and women like these watching over. By the grace of God, these individuals who are your neighbors, friends or family put their uniform on day after day at risk to their own lives to secure the freedoms we all enjoy but don’t often need to think about. I thank the Lord for John, Felicia and ‘Sgt,’” Greco wrote in closing.

Wisentaner will be staying on as a special officer, but he hopes to enjoy retirement, spending more time with his family, he has stated.

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Leah Laughlin is a rising senior at Newtown High School interning with The Newtown Bee this summer. She can be reached at intern@thebee.com.