Greenwich Police Hire 4 New Recruits

The Greenwich Police Department returned to its authorized strength of 155 officers on Monday with the swearing in of four new recruits.

The recruits, all of whom are college graduates, begin a seven-month training program at the New Britain Regional Police Academy on May 26, according to Sgt. Deborah Visceglia.

Two of the recruits are women — Greenwich resident Ericka Garcia and Kaitlin Ciarleglio of Waterbury. Police Chief James Heavey said that with the addition of Garcia and Ciarleglio, women now comprise 10 percent of the department’s staff.

Garcia, a graduate of Greenwich High School and Norwalk Community College, has been a member of the Greenwich Police Explorers for seven years.

Ciarleglio is a 2014 graduate with a master’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She also is a substitute teacher for the city of Waterbury.

Also appointed was Anthony Bello of the Bronx, NY, who also is a 2014 graduate of John Jay where he received the Phillip Gisses Award for the highest GPA and was on the Dean’s List his entire four-year college career. He also worked as an enforcement officer for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreaction.

Ridgefield resident Jonathan Mirra was the fourth recruit sworn in by First Selectman and Town Police Commissioner Peter Tesei in the Greenwich Town Hall ceremony.

Mirra earned a degree in criminal justice and economics in 2013 from the University of Maryland where he also was a student police aide.

The recruits will serve an 18-month probationary period that will inlude three months of field training after graduation from the New Britain Police Academy.

Photos: #1: from left, Jonathan Mirra, Ericka Garcia, First Selectman Peter Tesei, Kaitlin Ciarleglio, Anthony Bello and Police Chief James Heavey. #2: Ericka Garcia with her family; #3: Anthony Bello and his family; #4: Kaitlin Ciarleglio and her family; #5: Jonathan Mirra and his parents Joseph and Sophia Mirra. Credits: Barbara Heins.