Police Department Achieves

Full Complement With 47th Member

By Andrew Gorosko

In ceremonies before family, friends, and police department members, a Bethel man has taken the two oaths of office to become the Newtown Police Department’s 47th current sworn member, bringing the organization up to its full complement.

John McDermott, 23, was sworn into office by Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia on July 9 in ceremonies at the police station.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said the hiring of Officer McDermott by the Police Commission marks the first time that the police department has been at its full complement of officers in almost a decade. That full complement has expanded across time as the police department’s full roster has increased in view of an expanding town population.

“We welcome John,” said Chief Kehoe.

Similarly, First Selectman Joe Borst welcomed Officer McDermott to the police department’s ranks.

Commenting on Officer McDermott’s persistence in seeking to become a police officer, Chief Kehoe noted that the Police Commission hired him after he had twice gone through the town’s police hiring process.

Before becoming a local policeman, Officer McDermott worked as a counselor for the Bethel Parks and Recreation Department, as a Target store employee, and as a marketing coordinator at Coldwell Banker, Chief Kehoe said.

Officer McDermott has had a longstanding desire to be a police officer, the police chief added.

During their background check into Officer McDermott’s qualifications to become a policeman, local police found that his personal qualities include responsibility, maturity, conscientiousness, and politeness, the chief said.

Based on his qualifications, Chief Kehoe said he is confident that Officer McDermott would serve the community well as a police officer, abiding by the organization’s code of ethics.

The police chief told the recruit that he will bear much responsibility while working as a policeman.

In remarks, Officer McDermott thanked his family and friends present at the ceremonies for their support of his personal goal of becoming a police officer.

Chief Kehoe explained that both Officer McDermott and Officer Steven Siecienski, 22, of Danbury, who was sworn into office on July 2, will be attending the Milford Police Academy for basic training in law enforcement.

After academy training, they will return to Newtown for field training before assuming independent patrol work in about nine months.