Community Corner
Police Chief Reflects On Service, Mentorship And What Makes The Job Worth It
"Seeing new, young officers doing [this job] is the most rewarding part of my career," said Chief Louis Fusaro, Jr.
First responders are a vital part of our communities, keeping us safe and playing an integral role in daily life. Patch and T-Mobile have partnered on a Ride-Along series to showcase the important work these departments and individuals do every day.
We had the opportunity to speak with Chief Louis Fusaro, Jr. of the Groton Police Department to learn more about the department, life as a law enforcement officer and the impact of their work.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Can you tell us about the Groton Police Department?
Chief Fusaro: Groton has a population of about 38,000 and covers 31 square miles. Our department includes 70 sworn officers and about 25 civilian staff members. We’re a full-service department with an animal control unit, a traffic unit, a marine unit that handles shoreline operations, a K9 team, drones and a therapy dog.
We are also internationally accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies). We’re the only police department in this part of the state with that accreditation, and it’s a source of pride.
What does a typical day look like for a Groton law enforcement officer?
Chief Fusaro: That’s the unique thing about law enforcement: Every day is different.
Our officers respond to a wide range of service calls, including domestic violence incidents, larcenies and medical emergencies where they might administer Narcan. They’re all trained in crisis intervention and deal effectively with people in crisis.
We also want our officers to be ambassadors for the community. They regularly visit local schools—our policy is to have patrol officers stop by every school, every day when they’re available. That might mean a quick drive-in, walk-through or a visit with students and staff. Our officers could also be out doing speed enforcement in areas like Mystic, where we get complaints about traffic or limited parking enforcement.
Something we deal with now more than ever before is cybercrime. These crimes may start somewhere else, but people are victimized locally. Within our criminal investigations unit, we have a detective who’s been specially trained in cybercrime by the U.S. Secret Service. We also have affiliations with the FBI, which is a great force multiplier. Crime doesn’t know borders, so having those affiliations is helpful so we can compare strategies.
Can you tell us about your career in law enforcement and what inspired you to pursue this line of work?
Chief Fusaro: I was born into the profession. My father was a police officer and retired after 50 years of service, so it was a profession I knew well. I spent a full career in the Army National Guard, but I always felt a pull toward law enforcement. After my initial military service, I applied to the Connecticut State Police, where I worked for almost 22 years before becoming Chief in Groton.
I’ve always found law enforcement rewarding. There are tough times—you have a front-row seat to some of the worst moments life has to offer—but that’s when we perform at our best. That’s when people need us the most, and that’s what I find most rewarding: having a positive impact on the community we serve and making society better.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Groton community?
Chief Fusaro: Groton is a diverse community. The people who live here are very proud, and they’re very supportive of this police department.
History is very important in this community. Our moniker is the Submarine Capital of the World because we have the naval base here that trains all nuclear submariners. There are also so many subdivisions of Groton with unique characteristics, like Poquonock Bridge, Mystic, Noank and Groton City. These little areas are unique microcosms of New England that you don’t see anywhere else.
Can you share a memorable experience from your time at the department?
Chief Fusaro: I enjoy the conversations I have with new people who want to get involved in this line of work. Of the 70 officers here, I’ve hired well over half of them. I enjoy swearing them in to start a fulfilling, rewarding career. I’ve been happy to be a small part of that.
While there are stressful and difficult times, we’re in the best line of work. We work with great, like-minded people who are committed to service and doing the right thing for their fellow man. It’s been a challenge, but seeing new, young officers doing it is the most rewarding part of my career.
What advice would you offer to someone considering becoming a first responder?
Chief Fusaro: Look at the department you’re going into. Look at the culture and determine where you’d fit in that culture. What are your goals? Is that department going to meet your goals and vice versa? It's a relationship.
There are going to be some difficult and challenging times, but there are mechanisms to deal with that—not just coworkers, but people you can talk to and who can point you in the right direction. Like any line of work, if it doesn’t have challenges, it’s not worth doing, and this is very much worth doing.
I don’t think you will find a more rewarding line of work, where every day is different. You don’t know what you’re going to encounter. The reward might not be the front page of a paper or a medal; it might just be the satisfaction of helping your fellow person. It might be a minor crime, but to that person, it’s a big deal. You helped when they needed it the most.
More About the Groton Police Department
The Groton Police Department offers several ways for individuals to get involved and access community resources, including:
- Community Safety Programs. The Groton Police Department is involved in several programs designed to enhance community safety, including resident services like car seat checks and residential house checks during vacations, domestic abuse resources, elder abuse reporting resources and more.
- Report Speeding Cars. If you’ve observed a car in Groton speeding, driving recklessly or passing a school bus, you can report it to the Groton Police Department.
- Citizen’s Compliment Form. Residents of Groton can fill out a compliment form to commend an officer or department staff member when they’ve had a great experience.
For more information, visit the Groton Police Department website.
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