Det. Merrick Forader was honored this week as West Hartford Police Officer of the Year by American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96.

Det. Merrick Forader was named the American Legion Post 96 Police Officer of the Year. July 11, 2024. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

It’s been a week of celebration for West Hartford Police Det. Merrick Forader, who was honored as Police Officer of the Year by the American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 on Thursday at Birdie Lounge, just days after his promotional ceremony.

Chief Vernon Riddick shared Forader’s background, noting that he was hired by the West Hartford Police in 2017, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles who were also in law enforcement, and is an “unabashed girl dad and husband.”

Forader, who attended the University of Connecticut as a member of the ROTC program, earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in criminology and after graduating in 2012 was commissioned for active duty as a second lieutenant. He was a field artilleryman, and specialized as a fire support officer, leading and managing diverse teams. He graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School – which Riddick said is something fewer than 40% of those who attend are able to do – and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2015-2016 before leaving the service to begin his law enforcement career.

Det. Merrick Forader with West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick. American Legion Post 96 Police Officer of the Year celebration. July 11, 2024. Courtesy photo

Since joining the West Hartford Police Department, Forader has been assigned to the Patrol Division, has been a Field Training Officer, and he is in his fifth year with the Emergency Services Unit, currently a team leader. He is also a member of the department’s Honor Guard, Community Support Unit, and Greater Hartford Regional Auto Theft Task Force.

Forader, who has worked collaboratively with many other agencies, has “contributed to many high-profile cases in West Hartford and surrounding agencies involving the apprehension of dangerous criminals involved in homicides, shootings, home invasions, robberies, car jackings, narcotics trafficking, burglaries, auto thefts, and the seizure of numerous illegal firearms and quantities of illegal narcotics,” Riddick said.

Chief Vernon Riddick. American Legion Post 96 Police Officer of the Year celebration. July 11, 2024. Courtesy photo

Forader has received multiple awards during his career, including two departmental citations, a merit award, a lifesaving award for keeping a suicidal individual from jumping out of a third-floor window, unit citations, and a Hartford Police Department Recognition Award.

“Without question Det. Forader’s police and military career epitomizes a willingness and a responsibility to serve and protect,” Riddick said, and he has earned the respect of his peers both locally and statewide.

Post 96 Commander Heidi-Anne Mooney, and Past Commander Moe Fradette presented Forader with a plaque noting that July 11, 2o24 was designated as “Merrick Forader Day.”

Post 96 Commander Heidi-Anne Mooney with Det. Merrick Forader and his family. American Legion Post 96 Police Officer of the Year celebration. July 11, 2024. Courtesy photo

Forader said he was honored, humbled, and “very moved” by the recognition as Police Officer of the Year. He thanked his family, the American Legion, and the Police Department leadership for the opportunities he has been provided. He also thanked the Field Training Officers who trained him, and the supervisors “for pushing me to be better every day.”

Forader dedicated the award to his grandfather, a retired Bloomfield Police lieutenant – who inspired him to become a police officer, and who pinned him at his Police Academy graduation shortly before he passed away. “I feel him with me every single day on the street and I’d like to dedicate this to him,” Forader said.

“Character over resume” is his motto, Forader said. “My goal is to try to live up to this award and to try to prove I’m worthy of it, not just in 2024 but for the rest of my career. … This is a huge honor and it means the world to me.”

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