Crime & Safety
Bethel Man Sworn In Among 83 New CT State Troopers
Local resident will be starting work with Troop G in Bridgeport.
A Bethel resident was among 83 new State Troopers to graduate as members of the 123rd Training Troop on Jan. 9.
Bethel’s Peter Gardella will join the Connecticut State Police with his first assignment with Troop G in Bridgeport.
The 123rd training troop entered the academy on June 14 and spent approximately 1,400 hours in the classroom. They spent many more hours training in physical conditioning, water rescue, driving and other specialized areas of police work.
The 83 members of this class began the process of becoming State Troopers more than a year ago. At that time, they applied for the positions, took the written test and the physical fitness assessment, along with observational and polygraph tests.
Members of the 123rd Training Troop come from eight different states and have diverse backgrounds, training and experience.
Among the 83 graduates:
- 20 have military experience
- 26 have prior law enforcement experience
- 43 have bachelor degrees
- 10 have graduate degrees
- 85 percent of the class left higher paying jobs to serve as Connecticut State Troopers
Members of the class previously served as accountants, counselors, corrections officers, firefighters, lawyers, teachers and nurses, among other professions. The youngest member of the class is 23 and the oldest is 47.
At their graduation Thursday, the newest Troopers were sworn in by Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Reuben Bradford and assigned to one of 11 State Police troops located throughout Connecticut.
Troopers will be assigned as follows:
Troop A, Southbury – 6 new Troopers
Troop B, Canaan – 7 new Troopers
Troop C, Tolland – 7 new Troopers
Troop D, Danielson – 8 new Troopers
Troop E, Montville – 9 new Troopers
Troop F, Westbrook – 7 new Troopers
Troop G, Bridgeport – 9 new Troopers
Troop H, Hartford – 7 new Troopers
Troop I, Bethany – 6 new Troopers
Troop K, Colchester – 9 new Troopers
Troop L, Litchfield – 8 new Troopers
Based off a release from Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
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