The West Hartford Police Department held a promotion ceremony Wednesday morning.
West Hartford Police Department Badge
By Ronni Newton
Two long-time members of the West Hartford Police Department were recognized for their service Wednesday morning and received promotions to new ranks. Eric Rocheleau was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and will head the Community Relations Division, and Kerry Cloukey was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Patrol Division.
“This is a 50-50 proposition,” Chief Tracey Gove said as he addressed the crowd of family, friends, and others gathered to celebrate the promotions. The promotions are 50 percent about recognition for a job already well done, and 50 percent about added responsibility for keeping the community safe, he said.
Eric Rocheleau (center) with his wife and children at the promotion ceremony on June 29, 2016. From left: Deb, Grace, Eric, Jake, and Ryan Rocheleau. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Rochealeau, who will now command the Community Relations Division, is an 18-year veteran of the West Hartford Police Department. The 45-year-old West Hartford resident started his career as a constable in Bolton and also was an officer with the Suffield Police Department before joining the West Hartford department, Gove said.
Rocheleau was very visible in the community during the eight years (2003-2011) he was a K-9 officer together with K-9 Kora. Gove said that together the pair solved many crimes, apprehended violent criminals, and uncovered guns, contraband, and more. They were also involved in many community relations events, appearing at block parties, schools, and assisting with training and education in criminal justice programs at Central Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven
During his career, Rocheleau has received many accolades and citations, including earning the Daniel Wasson Award for K-9 handlers which is presented by both the Connecticut Police Chiefs and the Connecticut Police Work Dogs Association. He has also won departmental citations and merit awards, lifesaving award, MADD award, and was named 2008 Police Officer of the Year.
Rocheleau is also a member of the Honor guard and a field training officer and supervisor. He has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Tunxis Community College and has attended Central Connecticut State University. He’s currently attending the 10-week Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course, which is being hosted at the West Hartford Police Department.
Outside of work, Rocheleau is an active member of the community involved with youth coaching, Read Across America, Girl Scouts, PTO activities, celebrity scooping events, Special Olympics, and Bag for Hunger – to name a few.
Since 2013, Rocheleau has been a supervisor in the Detective Division and has handled the role of public information officer for the division. In his new position, Rocheleau will be the PIO for the department.
“Eric has shown hard work, dedication to the community and he has been a leader both within and outside of the walls of WHPD. Today, he is being promoted to lieutenant, and he will put all of those skills to good use as he commands the Community Relations Division,” Gove said.
Rocheleau lives in West Hartford with his wife Deb and his three children – Ryan, Jake, and Grace.
Before recognizing Cloukey, Gove discussed promotion to the rank of sergeant, “one of the most difficult transitions” to make, he said.
“Now you’re the new boss, and you need new skills, not only with your work but work with a group of people,” Gove said. Sergeants must repond to all critical incidents and make quick decisions, even in the middle of the night, in the rain and snow, and make tough calls, Gove said. It’s a balancing act between the needs of the officers and the priorities of the administration.
Kerry Cloukey (center) with his wife Nadine and other family members. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Cloukey, who has a total of 26 years of law enforcement experience, is an excellent role model and will make a terrific front line supervisor, Gove said.
Cloukey is an Air Force veteran who has an associate’s degree in electronic systems. Before joining the West Hartford Police in 2001, he served for 10 1/2 year with the New Britain Police Department where worked with the FBI and State Narcotics Task Force. He conducted three separate gang investigations and he received multiple unit and service awards.
When Cloukey came to the West Hartford Police Department, he was “not your traditional rookie,” Gove said.
After five years in the Patrol Division, Cloukey was assigned to the Traffic Division where his “passion and skill at accident investigation were evident,” Gove said. He completed all three traffic crash investigation courses as well as pedestrian and bicycle crash investigation, scene mapping, and digital photography.
“He has developed a reputation as being one of the leading crash investigators in the department,” Gove said, and although he is no longer in Traffic, he is still often the go-to guy when questions arise during a reconstruction.
Cloukey was one of the pioneers in the state in getting grands for distracted driving enforcement, and helped get the grant with which the WHPD purchased its unmarked Chevy Traverse.
He is a state-certified police instructor and a field training officer, a firearms instructor and a car seat installation technician. Cloukey has also received numerous letters of commendation and unit citations. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, fixing things, traveling, and golf.
Cloukey’s performance evaluations have noted that he is a hard worker and a pleasure to supervise, Gove said. “As a boss we will see soon how nice it is to have someone in that role who is a pleasure to supervise.”
Cloukey lives in Middletown with his wife Nadine and his daughter Kayla. He also has a son, Matthew, who is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force.
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