Hard-working Stringer promoted to sergeant
He'll help lead
second shift
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Driven by a lifelong desire to help people and trying to get justice for people who are victims, Richard D. Stringer July 11 was promoted to sergeant in the Putnam Police Department.
Surrounded by his family and work family, his wife Jamie pinned the sergeant’s badge on him and Julie Quinn of the Special Service District swore him in.
Stringer said when he came to the Putnam Police Department four years ago “I felt welcomed here. It’s like family.”
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said Stinger joined the Putnam Police Department after six years with the New London Police Department.
He is a certified Police Motorcycle Operator and Putnam’s first Motor Officer in the department’s history. He is a certified Field Training Officer and is a Crisis Intervention Officer, specially trained in dealing with people in mental health crisis. He is a State of CT POSTC Certified Firearms and Use of Force Instructor.
He is also certified to teach Police Baton, OC Spray, and Handcuffing Techniques. For the past several years he has taught at the LEC Eastern Region Police Academy and the LEC In-Service Recertification Training classes.
He has attended numerous specialized training courses throughout his career and brings a wealth of experience to his new supervisory position.
He said advancing has been part of his whole career. “It’s always been a goal that I’ve been working for throughout my whole career,” he said.
“I’ve been studying and training my entire career since I started in New London. I’ve always taken advanced training classes.”
Stringer will be assigned to second shift. He said his job will be pretty much the same except “Now I’m responsible for others on the shift as well. I get to use my experience and knowledge to help led the shift instead of just being part of it.”
Sergeant Stringer was selected for promotion after a series of competitive testing examinations conducted by the Law Enforcement Council of Eastern CT.
Sergeant Stringer is a 2008 graduate of Griswold High School and a graduate from Lincoln Technical Institute.
He lives in Griswold with his wife Jamie and their two children.
“I’m looking forward to serving for a very long time to come,” he said.
captions:
Left: Sgt. Stringer's wife Jamie pins the sergeant badge on him. Above: A proud family, from left: father Richard Stringer, Stringer, Jamie Stringer and the kids, and mother-in law Kim Gunn. Below: Say hi to K9 Quin. Bottom: The "work" family. More photos Wed. night on our FB page.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
July 7
Lawrence J. Massey, 50, Brainard Road, Hartford; use of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance, first offense; carrying a dangerous weapon.
July 11
Kenneth W. Lippe, 25, North Main Street, Webster; first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, violation of standing criminal protective order, third-degree assault, second-degree failure to appear, first-degree failure to appear.
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Charged with damaging park
PUTNAM — A Putnam man was arrested July 9 in connection with damaged lighting at the Veterans Park.
Eric Swanson, 56, of no certain address in Putnam, was charged with second-degree criminal mischief and interference with a war or veterans’ memorial or monument, according to Putnam Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace.
May 19 the Putnam Police Department was notified that damage had occurred overnight in the newly renovated Veterans Park on Bridge Street. The spotlights illuminating the veterans memorials in the park had been intentionally smashed out. After an investigation, police obtained an arrest from the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office and Officer Chip Carney of the Putnam Police took Swanson into custody without incident. All accused are innocent until proven guilty.
Elks begin celebration of 125th anniversary
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The BPOE Putnam Lodge 574 kicked off a celebration of its 125th anniversary July 12 with armfuls of citations, patriotic booths, games and more.
The celebration began with honored guests including U.S. Representative Joe Courtney, Mayor Barney Seney, State Senator Mae Flexer, State Representative Chris Stewart, Governor Ned Lamont and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, each bringing proclamations and citations.
As Saturday’s celebration went on in Putnam, the U.S. flag was flying over the U.S. Capitol for the lodge, courtesy of Courtney.
Exalted Ruler Marcel Morissette said the lodge has been planning the celebration for probably close to a year. “We really got it off the ground in January,” he said.
Morissette said the Elks are a patriotic organization: Members believe in God, they are U.S. citizens and are willing to pledge allegiance to the flag.
The U.S. flag is a foundation of the Elks. Janet Muscara-Schmidt said the Elks honored nine local businesses that proudly honor the flag every day: Chase Graphics, Honor Movers, Linemaster Switch and Mansion on Bald Hill, Eastford Building Supply, Pursuit Aerospace, Paquette Electric and Ivanhoe.
Also, geared toward kids, she had explanations of the importance of the flag along with patriotic coloring sheets and stickers.
She asked kids to draw an outline of their hand and place it on the poster – a pledge to honor the flag.
Morissette said the anniversary year will include a black-tie gala in October.
There will be only 150 seats and tickets are already on sale (860-928-3901). They will also be a co-marshal of the Dazzle Light Parade.
There will be some “pop-up” events. That’s in addition to annual events like their Trunk or Treat, the free Thanksgiving dinner and their Christmas basket program and more.
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captions:
Clockwise from top left:
Citations and proclamations began the celebration. Courtesy photo.
Exalted Ruler Marcel Morissette and secretary Lisa Morissette.
Joanne Donnell challenged Mike Stewart to a race on the obstacle course. It seemed to be a draw.
Left: There was a sizeable history lesson inside the lodge. The original charter was there, plus photos and projects, ledgers and even thank you letters from GIs who received care packages from the Elks during the war. More photos Wed. night on our FB page.
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