Date: Fri 13-Mar-1998

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Qubik-police-retirement

Full Text:

A Police Sergeant Retires After 28 Years

(with cut)

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Since 1970, John Qubick has served at the Newtown Police Department, working

to set an example for young patrol officers by providing leadership and

direction for their investigations.

Sergeant Qubick, 57, has lived in Newtown for the past 56 years, having moved

here from New York State with his family in his infancy. He grew up in a house

on Hall Lane.

"Half of my life has been spent at the police department," Sgt Qubick said in

an interview this week.

Sgt Qubick's deceased stepfather, Hiram Hanlon, was the town's first

constable.

Besides his 28 years at the department, Sgt Qubick served for three years in

the Navy in an anti-submarine warfare squadron. The police department service,

coupled with his military service, brings the sergeant's combined seniority to

31 years.

Sgt Qubick has been in charge of the department's motor vehicle unit, making

sure that maintenance, inspection, and servicing is done in a timely manner.

He fields motor vehicle complaints from patrol officers, seeking to prevent

automotive mishaps before they occur. The police use the town highway garage

to service their fleet.

"I like the (Ford) Expedition very much. We needed a four-wheel-drive

(vehicle) for some time," he said of the department's recent acquisition of

the marked go-in-the-snow truck.

Besides ensuring that police vehicles are reliable, Sgt Qubick has overseen

the police department's evidence room, documenting evidence which has been

collected and safeguarding evidence in storage. Also, Sgt Qubick kept the

department's intoximeter records.

Changes

"I've seen a lot of changes," Sgt Qubick said.

"The volume of traffic is now just unbelievable," he said of the mounting

traffic on local roads.

Many large houses have been built in Newtown, he said. "Places I used to hunt

are now developments," he noted.

And the police department has grown in numbers.

During his career in local law enforcement, Sgt Qubick has served under four

commanding officers -- Resident State Trooper Sgt James Costello, Police Chief

Lou Marchese, Police Chief Michael DeJoseph, and now Police Chief James E.

Lysaght, Jr.

"I've tried to work very well with all of them," Sgt Qubick said.

A patrol officer for four years, Sgt Qubick briefly served as the youth

officer, later becoming a patrol sergeant, and then a shift commander.

"I work hand-in-hand with patrolmen in the field," providing them with

direction, he said. The sergeant said he has enjoyed explaining law

enforcement to young patrol officers.

The sergeant said he has sought to maintain a positive self-image in his work.

"I've always wanted to be a police officer. You have to be sympathetic with

people and try to understand their problems and work their problems out," he

said.

"I really enjoy living in this town," Sgt Qubick said, noting the friendliness

of residents. "When you drive up Main Street and see that flag flying, it just

gives you a good feeling."

Noting the rigors that working a rotating shift can pose to a police officer

and his family, the sergeant credits his wife, Terry, for her supportiveness

during his career in law enforcement.

"I'm going to be leaving a `family' here. I'm very sad about that... It's

going to be very difficult leaving here," Sgt Qubick said of the camaraderie

he has enjoyed with members of the police department.

Sgt Qubick said his departure will give a patrol officer an opportunity to

move up into a sergeant's post and provide leadership for the department.

"He's one of the best guys who ever worked here (and) probably, the most

dedicated person I ever met," Detective Robert Tvardzik said of Sgt Qubick.

"Jack's truly one of the most caring people you'd ever want to meet."

"I try to take very good care of myself through diet and exercise," Sgt Qubick

said.

The sergeant's interests include gardening, hunting, fishing and softball.

"I'm very content and very happy with my career here," the sergeant said of

his work at the police department, noting his last day of work will be March

20, the first day of spring.

He will then become the sextant at Newtown Trinity Episcopal Church on Main

Street and, at last, work the day shift after 24 years of rotating shifts.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 13-Mar-1998

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