The Branford Police Department had a busy start to July with the promotion of four members of its leadership team and the addition of three new recruits. The promotion of Deputy Chief John Alves, Captain John Finkle, Lieutenant Phillip Ramey, and Sergeant Matthew Clerkin was announced on July 1, followed on July 2 with news that Alicia Glifort, Caroline Massey, and Michael Vitale had joined the force and started academy training last week.

According to a press release from the Branford Board of Police Commissioners and Chief Jonathan Mulhern, Alves is a 19- year veteran of the Branford Police Department. He served in the Patrol Division as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. He rose to the rank of captain and was most recently the commander of the Patrol Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University.

Alves is currently completing a master’s degree at the University of New Haven. He is graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum and Roger Williams Command Training Series. Alves has twice received the Medal of Merit, and received numerous commendations and unit citations.

Finkle was promoted from detective lieutenant and will now serve as the Patrol Division commander. Finkle is a 20-year veteran of the department. Finkle holds a master’s degree in forensic science and a bachelor’s degree from the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He is a 2016 graduate from the Senior Management Institute for Policing. He also earned the rank of lieutenant colonel to colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Ramey was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. He will now serve as a patrol shift commander. He is a 14-year veteran of the department and has been the Center Business District liaison for many years. Ramey was also a past member of the Branford SWAT Team. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Haven and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in investigations.

Clerkin will now serve as patrol shift supervisor. He is a 6 ½-year veteran of the department and a certified field-training officer. Clerkin earned a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and a master’s degree in investigations from the University of New Haven. Clerkin is the recipient of the Medal of Merit, Medal of Commendation, and several unit citations.

The New Recruits

Glifort, Massey, and Vitale are currently attending the 366th training session at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council Basic Training Program.

Glifort is from Bridgeport. After graduating high school in 2007, she obtained her bachelor of science in criminal justice with a minor in sports management and management information systems in 2011. She recently worked as a dispatcher for the Town of Branford and prior to that, she worked for the Connecticut Department of Corrections for four years.

Massey is from Guilford, and recently worked as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach for the University of Hartford. After graduating from Guilford High School in 2013, she attended University of Hartford as a Division 1 student athlete in both soccer and lacrosse. Massey obtained a master of arts in communication (2019) and a bachelor of arts in criminal justice with a minor in sociology (2017).

Vitale is from Orange. After graduating from Amnity High School in 2013, he worked in the maintenance department at the Hopkins School of New Haven, one of the top college-preparatory schools in the country, for the past five years.