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As mentioned last week, our Police Commission is running at full force again. Glenn Morron is now serving as the new chair and Tony Camilleri as Clerk. I thought you might like to know a little bit about the newest members …
Don Philips has lived in Colchester with his wife, Joanne, since 1996. He has served on the Colchester Zoning and Planning Commission and was elected as Colchester Tax Collector in 1999. In 2003, Don was elected to the Colchester Board of Assessment Appeals and served as chair from 2003 to 2007. He is an attorney and is presently employed as Government Relations Counsel at the Connecticut Bar Association.
Rob Parlee has lived in Colchester his entire life and is a life member of the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife, Heather, are raising two children. ~Cougar football coach, long-time dispatcher for the EOC, service on the Police Task Force Board – Rob is part of Colchester’s fabric.
Tony Camilleri has lived in Colchester with his wife Ronda since 2000. ~Three grown children, five grandchildren, and owning USA Security Services Corporation still leaves Tony time to dedicate to our town. ~He is a retired lieutenant & Division Commander of the Hartford Police Department and has taught police related classes nationally and internationally.
Did you know that Colchester Youth Services, Park & Recreation, and Police Department recently obtained a $10,000 grant to increase police interaction with kids to build relationships between officers and our students. Watch for more information on CTown Kids
Working with the Superintendent’s office, we recently submitted a grant for $9,100 to expand the department’s community policing efforts. This grant impacts two separate programs for the Colchester Police Department.
As many of you know, Trooper Fred Brigger, long time School Resource Officer, has retired and will not be replaced by the State. This is an important position for our students, the school administration, the Board of Education, and the Town. Knowing the importance, Sgt. Hassett, Karen Loiselle, and I have been working diligently to fill the gap and I’m really excited to announce that the Colchester Police Department is, for the first time ever, staffing a School Resource Officer. This grant will assist him in his efforts to provide youth crime and violence prevention, education and intervention programs. Workshops will be offered to middle school students regarding personal safety, self-esteem, bullying, internet, texting, etc. In addition, through this grant, high school juniors and seniors will be offered a
“distracted driver program” and there will be a workshop for parents regarding “How the Media is Killing Our Children.”
The second program impacted by this grant will be our Police Officer Mountain Bike Patrol. This unit patrols the town center, recreation complex, school grounds, the airline trail, and some neighborhoods on bicycles. This method of patrolling allows our officers to access places that cannot be accessed by patrol vehicle, as well as providing the community opportunities to interact one-on-one with individual officers and to increase the community policing philosophy of partnerships between officers and community members. This grant will allow the Town of Colchester to expand this program from just two officers on day shift to also include two evening shift officers, as well as to increase presence at all major events.
Speaking of bicycles, can you believe it’s the middle of July already? I hope that each and every one of you are having a wonderful summer – enjoying days off from school, vacations, and all of the summer activities happening all over. A friend asked this week, “so do you still have the best job in the world?” My response? “Definitely!” Have a happy week!
Previous Selectman Notes can be viewed at
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