Date: Tue 20-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Police-Stook-retirement

Full Text:

Det Stook To Leave Police Force After 17 Years

(with cut)

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

In 1971, C. Richard Stook was the last constable the town hired while the

Newtown constabulary was still under the control of a resident state trooper.

At the time, the 17-member constabulary operated out of tight quarters in the

basement of Edmond Town Hall.

The constabulary would then become a full-fledged police department under

former police chief Lou Marchese and move to Town Hall South in 1980.

A lot has changed since 1971, according to Detective Stook, who is leaving the

department to become the supervising investigator for the public defender's

office at Danbury Superior Court.

Since the early '70s, the work environment, the people, and the laws have

changed, making police work more challenging than it has ever been and

investigatory techniques more sophisticated, Det Stook said.

Twenty-five years ago, police cruised through town in Plymouth Grand Furys,

massive cars with massive, powerful engines. Today, they patrol in modern Ford

Crown Victorias.

Today, police use cellular telephones, pagers and computers. At least half of

the paperwork that police do has been computerized, the detective noted.

Det Stook said he was especially interested in conducting narcotics

investigations and forensics work during the past nine years while he served

as a detective.

Detective Robert Tvardzik, an investigator for 12 years, has worked closely

with Det Stook on many cases.

"I've known him for 24 years. He's become my work companion and like my

brother. I'm going to miss him," Det Tvardzik said. "We've worked together.

We've grown together. He's one of the more special people at the department."

Det Stook said he has been seeking a new job for the past couple of years.

"It was a very difficult choice to take this (court investigator) job," he

said.

As the supervising investigator in the public defender's office, Det Stook

will no longer have police powers. He will be doing follow-up investigations

on pending criminal cases and will provide other investigatory services. The

work largely will involve investigating felonies, such as murder and

first-degree assault, he said.

"I know everybody at the court. They're all nice people over there," he said.

"I think I'll like it. It'll be a change for me," he said. "I like the complex

investigations."

While serving at the town police department, Det Stook lectured on narcotics

investigations and forensics at the Citizens Police Academy.

Until recently, Det Stook's son, Richard B. Stook, served as a Newtown patrol

officer. After three years on the job, he left to become a Greenwich patrol

officer.

"That was a big thrill when he was here," Det Stook said.

The detective had reservations about his son becoming a police officer,

pointing out the rigors of rotating work shifts and the disruptions it can

cause to family life.

But reluctantly, Det Stook supported his son's decision to enter law

enforcement, adding that it was a very proud day when his son graduated from

the state's municipal police officer training academy.

"It was nice seeing him every day," he added.

Det Stook, 48, a Milford resident, enjoys golf, bicycling and travel. He has

season tickets for the University of Connecticut's men's and women's

basketball games.

"I'll miss the camaraderie, the close friendship," Det Stook said of leaving

the Newtown Police Department.