Cheshire Police Officer Promoted to Sergeant

After nine years on the force, Cheshire police officer Jeffrey Sutherland has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. The 36-year-old said Friday at his swearing-in ceremony that the promotion was a career choice he worked toward.

"It was step I was looking to make," Sutherland said. His new role moves him to the midnight shift where he will be the supervising patrolman. Having worked days for about six years, the overnight shift will require some adjustment, Sutherland said.

Police Chief Neil Dryfe told the crowd that moving from officer to sergeant is one of the hardest promtoins to achieve. "(Sutherland) worked very hard in a competitive process," Dryfe said. "It's an important milestone."

The promotion came after Sutherland successfully completed a two-part process that included an oral assessment and a written test. Dryfe said it was the first promotion he's had an opportunity to be part of since becoming the chief in January. 

On his new shift, Sutherland said he'll be dealing with different types of calls. "There will be more DUIs," he acknowledged. He said his attendance at DUI school at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden will help him be more proactive about decreasing the incidents of drinking and driving.

Personnel Director Louis Zullo said the police department is filling positions left open by retirements and should be up to its full strength of 49 officers by the end of the summer.

Sutherland's promotion comes following the retirement in May of Sgt. Philip Giampietro who left the force after 25 years.