Storytellers: Firefighters, Police Read To Schoolchildren

BRANFORD, CT — Here's something you'd never expect a police officer say to you: "We stood together silent smiling with wonder, then, just like the turtles, we followed the moon home."

Unless you're in Mrs. Perricone’s 2nd grade class at Tisko Elementary School where Branford Police officer John Cassella read 'Follow the Moon Home,' by Philippe Cousteau, grandson of famed marine explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau.

Cassella has been a Branford Police officer for 19 years.

As part of Read Across America, the local effort sponsored by the United Way of Greater New Haven, had fire and police reading to kids.

The theme, Branford Fire Chief Tom Mahoney said was focused on the environment: "How everybody is connected from the smallest of creatures to humans."

This week, Mahoney, Fire Marshal Shaun Heffernan, Deputy Chief Gary Bloomquist, fire inspector Rob Dobuzinsky and fire department administrative assistant Leah Ahern all read to Branford school children.

Mahoney said they read Monday and Tuesday, the former at Mary T. Murphy Elementary School the latter at Mary R. Tisko Elementary School.

Officer Cassella said, "I don’t know who was more excited, the children or me."

On the Branford Police Facebook page, they shared photos from 'Read Across America' that featured members of the police and fire department's at Tisko.

"They were so well behaved, quiet, and attentive to my reading. Their parents and teachers should be very proud. The students were also very inquisitive about my job as a police officer and asked many thoughtful questions," Cassella said.

"I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to be a part of this and I’m looking forward to doing this again. It’s all about the children as they are so important to the future of this country and our community,” he said.