Avon Welcomes Police Officers Reardon and Raspardo

Two new Avon officers are doing field training for patrol and another has left the .

Avon's most recent addition is Officer Jennifer Raspardo, who was sworn in on Jan. 30. Raspardo, an Avon resident, spent five years as an officer in the New Britain Police Department.

"She comes with experience," Lt. Kelly Walsh, spokesperson for the Avon Police Department, said. "She seems very eager and interested in starting her career here with us. I think she'll be a great addition."

Walsh said the same for , who was sworn in on June 27, 2011 as a patrol officer, started work a few weeks ago and is doing field training, Walsh said. He graduated from the Hartford Police Academy. Prior to becoming a police officer, Reardon studied culinary arts and was a chef.

While Avon is embracing its new officers, the department said goodbye this year to one of its newer patrol officers,, who was the valedictorian in his class at the Hartford Police Academy last year. He left for a job at the Rocky Hill Police Department, Walsh said. was only at the department for about one year.

"He was eager and enthusiastic," Walsh said. "We were sad and disappointed to see him go."

Reardon's annual salary is $57,750, Human Resources Director William Vernile said, and Raspardo will be paid $61,644 a year.

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