11 new police officers sworn in, including 5 military veterans

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MANCHESTER, NH – Eleven new officers officially joined the ranks of the Manchester police force on March 16, bringing the number of boots on the ground up to 230 – just short of the city’s approved complement of 237 officers.

Of course, with more scheduled retirements planned the hiring process will continue in earnest, with another police officer exam being administered March 21.

“It’s a very big deal when we hire. We are truly a family,” said Chief David Mara, who pointed out that even the chaplain giving the invocation, the Rev. Father Thomas P. Steinmetz of Our Lady of the Cedars Church in Manchester, is a retired police lieutenant,

“Took a while to get used to calling him Father. I started out calling him daddy,” said Mara, evoking laughter from the crowd of family, friends and fellow officers. “And we also know that during his invocation his phone went off and his ringtone is a Moody Blues song, so you never know what you’re going to get.”

Mara thanked the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for allowing enough in the city budget to increase the number of police officers.

New Manchester Police Officers sworn in.
New Manchester Police Officers sworn in.

“What that means is that we have more police officers to carry out our mission of providing public safety and improving the quality of life to the citizens of Manchester, we anticipate being able to cut down our calls for service as far as the response time, and we’re going to be able to get more officers out into the needed areas,” said Mara.

He addressed the 11 officers by reminding them that they are the best of the best, having gone through a rigorous selection process. Five of the new recruits are military veterans, and several have already worked in part- or full-time capacities with other New Hampshire police departments.

“Once you put on a uniform people will be looking at you different. Whether you like it or not, you’re now a role model. Whether you like it or not, you are now an ambassador – not only for the Manchester Police Department but for the city of Manchester. When people come to our city they’re going to be looking to you, not only for protection, but if they have a bad experience with a police officer, it’s a reflection on the city, not just the police department,” Mara said.

He told them that they will experience things as a Manchester police officer in one year that most police officers in the state won’t experience their whole careers.

“You’ll be exposed to the worst that or society has to offer, and less frequently, the best. You’ll learn that things are not black-and-white as they once seemed. You will realize there are not only good people and bad people, but good people who make mistakes. On a daily basis you’re going to have the opportunity to help have an immediate positive impact on people’s lives,” said Mara. “That’s what being a police officer is all about.”

In addition to several certificates of recognition to officers for outstanding performance in the line of duty, Detective Peter Marr was named Officer of the Year.


 


New Sworn Officers

Officer Gregory W. Bachilas

Officer Bachilas, 26, was raised in Shelburne, Vt., and is a graduate of Champlain Valley Union High School, class of 2007. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Castleton State College in Vermont, in 2013.

Greg has most recently been employed as a court officer at the Vermont Superior Court.

Officer Eythan B. Caputo

Officer Caputo, 21, was raised in Madbury and is a graduate of Newfound Regional High School in Bristol, class of 2011. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire in Durham in December 2014.  He enlisted with the NH Army National Guard in 2011 and is currently assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Command as a Military Instructor.

Officer John P. Connors

Officer Conners, 23, was raised in Winthrop, Mass. and is a graduate of Winthrop High School, class of 2010. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, in 2014. He has most recently been employed as a part-time police officer with the York, Maine, Police Department.

Officer Ryan P. Hardy

Officer Hardy, 26, was raised in Goffstown and is a graduate of Goffstown High School, class of 2007. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Hesser College in Manchester, in 2012. He is a graduate of the 158th NH Police Academy and has been employed as a patrolman with the Derry Police Department since 2012.

Officer Konrad Jaworowski 

Officer Jaworowski, 25, was raised in Southampton, Mass., and is a graduate of Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton, Mass.,  class of 2007. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from St. Anselm College, in 2010, and is a 2012 graduate of the 157th NH Police Academy. He has been employed as a police officer with the Goffstown Police Department since 2011.

Officer Michael L. Johnson

Officer Johnson, 28, was raised in Chico, Ca., and is a graduate of Chico Senior High School, class of 2005. Since 2013,  he has been studying toward an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2008 and completed multiple deployments in Iraq during his service. He was honorably discharged from active service in 2012 at the rank of sergeant. He currently serves with the Massachusetts U.S. Army National Guard at the rank of Sergeant 1st Class and has most recently been employed as a loss prevention officer for the K-Mart store in Hyannis, Mass.

Officer Alexander W. Martens

Officer Martens,  25, was raised in Merrimack and is a graduate of Merrimack High School, class of 2008. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008 and completed a tour in Afghanistan during his service. He was honorably discharged in 2012 at the rank of corporal. He is a 2013 graduate of the 160th NH Police Academy  and has served as a patrolman with the Chesterfield, NH, Police Department since 2012.

Officer Thomas B. McAuliffe Jr.

Officer McAuliffe, 39, was born in Boston, Mass., and raised in Dorchester and Marshfield, Mass. and is a graduate of Marshfield High School, class of 1994. He joined the U.S. Army in 2003 and completed two tours in Afghanistan during his service. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 2006. He is a graduate of the 148th NH Police Academy and has been employed as a patrolman with the Bedford Police Department since 2008.

Officer Brianna N. Miano

Officer Miano, 22, was raised in Tewksbury, Mass., and is a graduate of Shawsheen Valley Technical Vocational High School in Bllerica, Mass., class of 2010. She is attending the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and is nearing the completion of her studies toward a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology. She has most recently been employed as a part-time police officer with the Hampton Police Department and as a bartender at Thirsty’s Bar & Grill in Tewksbury, MA.

Officer Amanda L. Smith

Officer Smith, 25, grew up in Penacook and is a graduate of Merrimack Valley High School, class of 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology with a minor in psychology from Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., in 2011. She has most recently been employed at Community Resources for Justice in Boston.

Officer Cheryl A. Trudeau

Officer Trudeau, 25, was born in Nashua,but moved with her family to West Waterboro, Maine, where she graduated from Massabesic High School, Class of 2007. She joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012 and was honorably discharged in 2013. She is studying toward a degree in criminal justice at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord and was named by her professors as “Outstanding Criminal Justice Freshman.” She has most recently been employed as a hostess at the Puritan Restaurant in Manchester.


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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!