The meeting will be from 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. and then again from 3:30 p.m. till 5:30 p.m.

Please join us at the Holiday Inn Express (in Hartford), Meeting Room.
Refreshments will be served.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Waterford CT – The Waterford Police Union held yearly elections this month.  The new WPD Union president for the 2012 year will be Officer Michael Fedor.  Also elected were Officer Richard Morgan for Vice President, Sergeant Steven Bellos for Secretary and Lieutenant Brett Mahoney for Treasurer.

The Executive Board/Negotiating Committee will consist of Officer Matthew Fedor, Officer Nicolas Surdo and Officer Cynthia Munoz.

Chief Union Steward is Officer Gilbert Maffeo and the two shop Stewards are Sergeant Jonathan Pettigrew and Officer Stacy Shea.

We support and donate to community activities such as youth sports organizations, educational scholarships, youth education programs such as the Waterford Anti-Drinking Education coalition (W.A.D.E), food drives and various community charities.

For more information about the Waterford Police Union and the Waterford Police Patrolman’s Benevolent Association please vist www.waterfordpolicepba.org

 Waterford Police Department Article

Chief of Police Waterford Connecticut Murry Pendleton (Bud) talks with Bark Buckle UP regarding pet travel safety in vehicles.
Chief Pendleton supports Bark Buckle UP’s education efforts to teach people that pets can become a projectile if they are not secured while in a car.

CT Law: Transport of dogs in back of trucks

http://jbunceiii.smugmug.com/Sports/Jack-OKeefe-Memorial-Strides/19446180_MmwHqr

Sgt. Mark Willard, a 25-year veteran of the Waterford Police Department, is retiring from the force in October. 

     Sgt. Willard was hired at the Waterford Police Department in 1987, after spending 3 years as a Constable at the Colchester Police Department.  Mark Willard spent 17 years on Patrol, 1 year working in the Detective Division, 3 years working as the Police Department Accreditation Manager and the last 4 years as a Patrol Supervisor.  Sgt. Willard was also on the Accident Investigation Team, receiving specialized training in On Scene Accident Investigations and Advanced Accident Investigations.  He has received MADD awards for his D.U.I. enforcement and was also named WPD Officer of the Year in 2002.

      Sgt. Willard was asked several questions about his career, his family and his future.  Here are just a few:

 Q:  How has police work changed since you started?

 A:  Much more complex crimes and investigations due to the use of computers and cell phones, and global scams that can’t be investigated locally.

 Q:  How would your co-workers describe you?

 A:  I would be described as serious and no nonsense (no fun!)

 Q:  If one of your kids wanted to become a police officer, what would you say to them?

A:  I would tell my child that police work would be the most difficult job you will ever do, don’t do it for the glory, but do it for the self-satisfaction that it brings you. It is NOT like the television shows we have grown up watching.

 Q: Is there anything you wish you had done, but didn’t?

 A:  I always wanted to be a Detective.  I worked about 12 months in the Detective Division investigating serious crimes, including a murder in 2005 where I assisted in identifying the shooter.

     Sgt. Mark Willard, who has been married for 32 years, raised two great daughters with his wife and put both of them through college. He has a self-described “addiction” to golf, since he began playing in 1997.  (He hopes to break 80 sometime this year)

     As a Patrol Supervisor, Mark Willard has let his officers make decisions and he supported them as needed.  He tried not to micro-manage the officers working for him and he was not only appreciated for his supervisory style, but respected for it as well.

     Sgt. Mark Willard, who says he will take some time off before he begins a new career, has a BA in Public Policy and Government from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Haven.  He has also served 5 years in the U.S. Navy and 5 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

     In total, Mark Willard has spent 37 years serving the public by way of his military and police careers.  He says he will miss the people and the interesting investigations of the job, but everyone who knows him suspects he will thoroughly enjoy his retirement. (As long as he gets his golf score lower).  We wish Mark Willard the best of luck in his future endeavors.