Officer Paula Wickman has been serving the Newtown community with Newtown Police Department for about 15 and a half years. On Thursday, October 15, Wickman was officially promoted and sworn in as Patrol Sergeant Wickman.

A few off-duty, and on-duty, police officers lined the back of the conference room of the police station. A few other town leaders, like First Selectman Bruce Walczak and former First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, were also in attendance.

Police Chief David Kullgren welcomed to everyone to the swearing in ceremony by saying, “We’re here to recognize a member of our department. It’s a privilege to announce the promotion to Officer Paula Wickman to patrol sergeant. Over the years, about 15 and a half, Paula has served in many different roles.”

Kullgren listed off a few of those roles: field training officer, drug recognition expert, DRE instructor, and an EMS instructor for Newtown Police. Kullgren shared with the crowd that sergeants are “the first gatekeepers, the first referees, the first mentors that officers have in our department.” He called it an “extremely important role,” and congratulated Wickman again on her promotion.

Police Commissioner Phil Cruz spoke next. He first congratulated Wickman on her promotion before thanking her for her service.

“We want to thank you for your past, your present, and your future service. You have done a phenomenal job, and we know that you’re going to carry that forward … And thank you, mostly, from our community. We’re really grateful,” Cruz said to Wickman.

Kullgren shared with the crowd that Wickman had her mother and father there to witness her promotion. Her father, David Wickman, volunteered to pin her.

Town Clerk Renee Weimann then had Wickman recite the oath as sergeant.

Wickman recited that she, on her honor, “will never betray [her] badge, [her] integrity, [her] character, or the public trust.” She swore to always have the courage to hold herself and others “accountable for their actions,” to “uphold the Constitution,” her “community, and the agency [she] serve[s].”

Weimann offered Wickman her congratulations, and then David pinned his daughter’s sergeant badge onto her uniform.

Wickman made a joke to her dad to not stab her for “all those years.” After some adjusting and laughs, Wickman turned to the crowd, officially a patrol sergeant.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.