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Date: 10/16/2015
CHICOPEE – The city of Chicopee has eight new police officers who will be starting the next phase of their training.
On Oct. 9 the eight took their oath during a ceremony at the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
Nicholas Gero, Jacek Wanat, Matthew Paquette, Patrick Styckiewicz, Peter Adamcyz, Nicole Devlin, Jeffrey Sousa and Erik Sunny all graduated from the combined police academy class conducted for both Springfield and Chicopee cadets.
Devlin was not only the class president but also won the physical fitness award.
Police Chief William Jebb said being a police officer is “one of the best careers in the United States of America.”
He added that crime is down in Chicopee and there have been changes in the Chicopee Police Department.
“We’re an open book now,” he said. “The officers are more accountable than they ever were in the past.”
He said a small percentage of what they will do is fighting crime. “The majority is public service,” he explained.
Jebb what is next for the eight officers is 14 weeks of field training with veteran officers, he said it would be “not an easy transitional period.”
He added, “We want the best product."
Jebb said the department is still 10 officers away from being at full complement of 111 officers. He thanked the mayor and the City Council for supporting the expansion of the department.
He also thanked the families of the new officers for their support during a challenging time.
Kos said the city is expecting a new Civil Service list to be available Nov. 1 so more candidates can go through the next academy.