Three new members of the West Hartford Police Department were recently sworn in.

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford Police Department welcomed a trio of experienced officers to its ranks last month in a ceremony at Town Council Chambers attended by family, friends, and other department members as well as town staff and officials.

Ofc. Dylan Gervais, Ofc. Timothy Boyle, and Ofc. Vincenzo Gagliardi were sworn in as the newest members of the West Hartford Police Department and administered the oath of office by Mayor Shari Cantor.

Earlier that week, West Hartford learned that the town had been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the 19th “Best Place to Live” in the country – the only Connecticut town making the top 250 – and Cantor remarked that the town is a “really special community.”

“We would not be here without the incredible commitment of our public safety, dedicated public safety personnel from our leadership all the way through the ranks,” Cantor said as she welcomed the new officers, noting how critical their role is and the town’s commitment to supporting them. “These ceremonies give us an opportunity to say thank you family, thank you for dedicating your life to public service.”

Town Manager Rick Ledwith also welcomed the “three newest outstanding individuals” and their families to the West Hartford Police Department, also thanking other department members for their “mentorship, professionalism, and camaraderie” going forward.

“Our police department … plays a vital role in the fabric of West Hartford. Every day you uphold the safety, wellbeing, and trust of our community, and because of you West Hartford continues to thrive,” Ledwith said. He noted that the dedication and professionalism of the police department is a critical factor in the town’s reputation, along with strong community, great schools, and engaged residents. “You are joining a town that values and respects your roles deeply,” he told the new officers.

Chief Vernon Riddick remarked that the latest hires have come from several other police departments, noting that the ability to attract experienced officers is a testament to the work of the town manager, Town Council, and mayor in approving the latest collective bargaining agreement. When the negotiations began in January 2024, the department was down 14 officers in a department budgeted for 132, but at the end of 2024, following the adoption of the new contract, there were only three vacancies.

Adapting the words of a speech by former President Teddy Roosevelt, “Man in the Arena,” Riddick reminded the new officers that members of the West Hartford Police Department “stand on the side of righteousness. We stand on the side of justice. We stand on the side of protecting and serving” – a legacy that they will continue and should not take lightly. He also urged them to show humanity and humility, and to exercise discretion.

Asst. Chief Larry Terra shared some background information on the three new department members.

Gervais comes to West Hartford from the Hartford Police Department, where he has been an officer since 2017. He’s a Connecticut native who graduated from Vinal Technical High School and initially worked for his family’s machining business.

While a member of the Hartford Police Department, Gervais received a merit award for involvement in apprehension of a carjacking suspect, was a member of the street crimes unit, and worked with the Greater Hartford Regional Auto Task Force, Terra said.

Boyle is from West Hartford, and a graduate of Conard High School who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Central Connecticut State University. Since 2004, he served as a member of the State Capitol Police Department, rising through the ranks from patrol officer to field training officer bike patrol officer, corporal, patrol sergeant and shift commander, training sergeant, and operations administrative sergeant – managing the development and construction of the State Capitol Command Center and supervising the K9 unit and the vehicle and bicycle fleet.

Boyle served as liaison between the Capitol Police and the Hartford and Connecticut State Police departments, a role that included assignments with rallies and protests as well as the UConn victory parades. “He was in charge of homeland security and intelligence, participating in weekly meetings with law enforcement partners from the local, statewide, and federal level,” Terra said, and was also assigned to the 2024 Connecticut Elections Security Task Force.

Gagliardi is also a West Hartford native and Conard High School alum. After graduating from Conard in 2015, he worked for the Town of West Hartford Plant & Facilities Division before joining the New Britain Police Department, where he worked for five years.

In New Britain, Gagliardi was a SWAT team officer and field training officer.

Because all three are already certified officers, they do not need to attend the Police Academy and immediately began training in the West Hartford Police Department’s policies and procedures through the Field Training Division.

Lt. Amanda Martin served as emcee at the swearing-in ceremony, and Dr. Michael Bailey, chaplain with the Hartford Police Department, gave the invocation.

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