Beyond The Badge: Meet Officer Marlena Ofiara, Immigrant From Poland, She Joined NHPD 7 Years Ago

NEW HAVEN, CT — In its series Beyond the Badge, the New Haven Police Department features an officer deserving of the spotlight.

Officer Marlena Ofiara has been serving the community for seven years with roles including Field Training Officer, Crisis Negotiator, Crowd Control, and Rifle Operator, and in the latter, she's the only female officer in that role, police said. Ofiara also completed a six-month assignment in the Special Victims Unit, "gaining insight into the incredible work of detectives, handling cases involving sexual assault," police said.

Ofiara emigrated from Wola Raniżowska, Poland, police said.

"Ofiara came to the U.S. to build her future, and she’s now helping protect and shape her community here in New Haven," the department shared on Facebook.

Ofiara offers advice for women, and those who have immigrated to the U.S., and are thinking about joining NHPD.

"If this is something you’ve been considering, don’t be intimidated, just go for it," she said emphatically. "In a police department as diverse as New Haven's, with so many specialized units, there’s room for everyone."