New Avon Sergeant Works to Strengthen Police Department's Connection with Senior Citizen Community

After joining the Avon Police Department in August, a patrol officer was promoted to the rank of sergeant on Monday, April 29. 

Sgt. Rodney Williams, 46, began his career as a police officer at the New Britain Police Department when he was 25. He retired after 20 years on the job, 10 of which he served as sergeant, to come to Avon.

The Southington resident and Wallingford native chose to apply to the Avon Police Department because it covers a "nice, small town," a change of pace from the city.

He was one of three department employees to test for the sergeant opening, according to Avon Police Chief Mark Rinaldo. The application process included a "written test and extensive assessment center" that "tested the candidate's ability to process information and handle the complexities of a police sergeant," Rinaldo said in his speech. He ranked first in the testing, Rinaldo said.

"Officer Williams has had a distinguished law enforcement career," Rinaldo said in a speech at the swearing-in ceremony on Monday. "He supervised the patrol and detective divisions (in New Britain) and was responsible for up to 40 police officers during any given shift."

While in New Britain, Williams earned awards for a "significant narcotics arrest" and the "capture of a child predator while assigned to the FBI Computer Crimes Task Force" in New Haven, Rinaldo said. 

When hired as an Avon patrol officer, Williams was thrilled to learn about the community relations work the department was involved in.

In fact, in his employment application, he wrote that he is "always interested in civil service and loves working to help people." 

He has been instrumental in bringing the Triad Senior Citizen Program to Avon to establish a stronger connection between the police department and the senior citizens in town. 

About one third of Avon's population is made up of senior citizens, Williams said.

"As that population keeps growing, we need to adapt our style of policing to include that senior population," Williams said. 

The program, which kicked off in January and is still being developed, will include seminars at the Avon Senior Center, providing information such as the latest scams that could target senior citizens.

Williams is working on bringing the File of Life initiative to Avon. The program encourages seniors to keep a magnetic card on their refrigerators that contains pertinent medical information that can assist emergency responders during medical calls, such as prescriptions and doctor contact information. The program is slated to begin in late May.

As sergeant, Williams will also supervise the patrol division, which he said he is looking forward to in his new role.