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01/20/2010 11:00 PMIt was a long process due to budget cuts, meetings, candidate searches, and interviews, but in the end, the Clinton Police Department (CPD) hired its 25th officer, a hire that returns the department to full staffing.
Gregory Matakaetis, a certified officer in the state, was officially sworn in to duty by Town Clerk Karen Marsden Jan. 19. Matakaetis, 25, was recently employed as an officer at the University of New Haven for two years. He lives along the shoreline.
"Matakaetis is an energetic and intelligent police officer who I am sure will fit into the culture of the community," said Chief of Police Joseph Faughnan. "He is a well-educated, pleasant, and open person."
Board of Police Commissioners Chair David Lee noted that Matakaetis is a fully certified Connecticut police officer, which means a large saving for the town as he has already completed his training. A certified Connecticut officer is someone who has previously completed his or her training in the state and is presently employed as an officer in the state. If a non-certified candidate was hired, that person must first successfully complete 16 weeks of training at the police academy and two months of field training with a Clinton police officer.
According to CPD Major Todd Lawrie, if the department hired a non-certified officer at the end of last year, there would not be an opening available at the
police academy until March of this year.
Matakaetis's hire represents a replacement of officer Phil Confer, who retired in 2008, said Lawrie. After a cut in funding last year, the department, officially down one officer due to the retirement, but down more due to
injuries, fought hard to hire its 25th
officer. Last November, it received
approval from the finance board to begin a search for candidates.
"The Police Commission is proud that the Clinton Police Department continues to attract the level of officer that we see in Greg Matakaetis," said Lee. "The commission has made it its goal to maintain the department as an employer of choice to ensure that we continuously keep the level of our force high, which creates and maintains the standard of public safety that the citizens of Clinton expect and demand. We...look forward to seeing the department heading toward its full force."
Seven years ago, the Police Executive Research Forum, a consulting firm, studied the CPD and came to the conclusion that it requires 25 officers to operate effectively 24/7. At the time, there were 23 officers on staff. In addition to the officers, today there are 17 other staff members, including full- and part-time dispatchers, administrative assistants, records clerks, custodians, and animal control officers.