The West Hartford Police Department held a swearing-in ceremony for three new officers on Sept. 26, 2024.

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford Police Department officially welcomed three new members to its ranks on Sept. 26 during a swearing-in ceremony held at Town Hall, with family, friends, town leaders and staff, and other department members in attendance.

Before Ofc. Zachary Barown, Ofc. Justin Policarpio, and Ofc. Nicholas Denegre were sworn in, Town Manager Rick Ledwith addressed the audience.

“Today we witness the commitment these individuals have made to serve and protect our community with integrity, courage, and dedication,” Ledwith said. He thanked the families of the new officers, noting that the officers are here “because of their hard work and determination but also because of your encouragement, love, and support.”

Ledwith also thanked existing department members for guiding the new officers, and to the new recruits, he said, “Congratulations, you have chosen to serve in one of the most honorable professions there is, for a town that deeply values the role our police department plays in protecting us all. … We encourage you to carry that trust with humility, professionalism, and with a deep sense of responsibility,” he said.

Chief Vernon Riddick echoed Ledwith’s comments about the town’s support for the police department, adding praise for the new contract that was ratified and approved by the Town Council with a unanimous 9-0 vote over the summer.

Riddick provided some advice to the new officers, telling that that in the past “strength” used to be equated with not showing emotion, but that’s actually weakness – and he urged the new officers to seek support if they are going through challenging times.

“I will guarantee you … there are more people that appreciate police officers, respect police officers, and need police officers – nationwide. Don’t fall into the false narrative that everyone’s out to get you,” Riddick said, and in West Hartford the police are definitely respected.

“In today’s climate you can go anywhere in the country or the state, but you chose to come to us, and I will guarantee you made the right choice,” said Riddick. “We won’t let you down.”

Assistant Chief Larry Terra shared some background about the new officers.

Barown is a native of Colebrook, CT, and a recent graduate of Emmanuel College in Boston where he was a student-athlete, playing for the men’s soccer team for all four years along with being a member of the men’s track and field team for a year.

Prior to joining the West Hartford Police Department – and become a third-generation police officer in his family – Barown was a farm hand at Gresczyks Farm in New Hartford, CT.

Policarpio is from Connecticut, and after graduating from high school he joined a diving academy, graduating in 2009 and after earning his commercial diving license he worked in underwater construction for five years.

He wanted to be closer to home, and transitioned to working in the electrical field before joineing the Connecticut Department of Correction where he was a correction officer for six and a half years, where he “developed great communication and de-escalation skills,” Terra said. “Working as a correction officer only furthered his ambition to become a police officer, and believes he can actively serve and protect the Town of West Hartford.”

Badges are assigned in numerical order as officers are hired, and Denegre has the distinction of wearing West Hartford Police Department’s badge No. 500.

He is originally from North Branford, CT, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 2019, Terra said, becoming an airman. His assignments included Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 and a deployment to Jordan in 2022 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Agile Spartan.

Denegre remains in the Air Force Reserves as a staff sergeant, and Terra noted that the skills, experience, and connections he acquired during his military service led him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor administered the oath of office, and the officers were pinned with their new badges by Riddick. All three will begin their training at the Police Academy in Meriden on Oct. 4.

Capt. Peter Juda served as emcee of the ceremony, and Pastor Eric Peoples offered an invocation.

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