Greenwich Police Recognize Officer Of The Month

GREENWICH, CT — Michael Hall, an officer for the Greenwich Police Department, has been named "Officer of the Month" for August in recognition of his work in a recent fraud investigation.

In a statement this week, police said Hall was working a plainclothes officer job on July 27 in the area of central Greenwich when he noticed suspicious activity at a local business. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"Based on his training and experience, [Hall] believed he was witnessing an organized group of people engaged in committing fraud," police said in a statement. "Officer Hall set up surveillance on the subjects, contacted headquarters and began to coordinate the response of uniformed officers to conduct a stop of the three subjects."

The suspects ultimately left the store and got in a vehicle before uniformed officers arrived, however a description of the vehicle was sent out to police.

An officer later tried to stop the vehicle, however the suspects fled and crashed into another car, police said. They were arrested a short time later after they tried to flee on foot, police said.

"A follow-up investigation completed by Officer Hall determined that all three subjects had extensive criminal histories," police said. "One was a fugitive wanted by New York parole [officers] and a member of a violent street gang operating out of Queens, N.Y."

Hall also found a loaded handgun after searching the suspects' vehicle, according to police.

"His further investigation was able to directly connect the firearm to the fugitive resulting in additional firearm charges," police said. "Officer Hall clearly demonstrated two of the department's core values, diligence and service, in his effort to reduce organized retail theft in Greenwich."