Four Candidates Approved to Join Milton Police

The Board of Selectmen made four conditional appointments for new officers to the Milton Police Department Monday night, bringing the department up to 51 officers. The appointees will enroll in the State Police Academy, after being cleared medically, psychologically and physically.

Walter T. Geanacopoulos, Robert Ranton, Christopher Ernst and Christopher Potts will be filling the four positions, three of which have been open for up to a year according to Deputy Chief Charles Paris.

Interviews with the Board of Selectmen, on Thursday and Monday, were the last step in a lengthy hiring process for the new officers. Each candidate passed a civil service test to be placed on a hiring list. From there, they went through a series of verbal interviews with police officials.

"It gives everyone an opportunity to ask them questions and find the best candidates possible," Paris said of the involved process.

If the new officers complete their screenings, they will enroll in the State Police Academy on August 30. From there, they will come to Milton.

"Once they graduate from the academy, they'll enter the field officer training program and then be on the streets by themselves," Paris said.

Paris said the new officers would be welcome additions to the staff, but still did not give the department a full complement. According to Paris, the department could use four more officers, a task that would need funding along with the police and Board of Selectmen working together to make happen.