New Resident Trooper Happy to Be Here

Last month, Connecticut State Police Sgt. James Gilman became Ledyard’s resident state trooper – the third person to hold that position this year, although it appears Gilman might be here for a while.

For one thing, he really wants to be here.

“I heard about the position and put in a transfer request through Troop E in Montville, and I was fortunate enough to be selected,” said Gilman, 39, a Rhode Island native who now lives in Stonington with his wife and children.

Working with Ledyard Police Lt. Michael Finkelstein, Gilman will supervise a force of 22 full-time officers. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of New Haven and has been a member of the Connecticut State Police for 17 years.

He began his career in the patrol division out of Troop E, and later was a canine handler, working with two dogs in both search and rescue and narcotics investigations.

Gilman is well familiar with the resident trooper role. For more than two years – from 2004 to 2006 – he served as resident state trooper in North Stonington. In fact, he said, he knows a number of Ledyard officers from that experience. "I've worked with quite a few of them on different occasions," he said.

In 2006 he transferred from North Stonington to Troop F in Westbrook, where he worked as evening shift supervisor and resident trooper supervisor for that region, which includes eight resident trooper towns.

But he said he has never supervised a full-time municipal police department. That challenge will be something new.

“It’s a different part of police work, being responsible for a full-time, well-established law enforcement organization, and I’m looking forward to working with a great group of guys, some of whom have been here for many years,” he said.

Gilman said the professionalism of the Ledyard police department contributes greatly to making Ledyard the safe community that it is. “There is no question that a well-organized, professional department with veteran officers who are experienced in conducting quality investigations all contribute to a reduction in crime,” he said.

During the past month he has been getting to know people in the department and in town. He has met with residents at the Ledyard Senior Center to promote the Triad Program, a national initiative devoted to senior safety. For example, Triad encourages seniors to place cards in their vehicles alerting others to any medical conditions in the event of an accident.

“It’s just another way to network,” said Gilman, adding that as a certified D.A.R.E. officer, he is equally interested connecting with the town’s young people. Both Triad and D.A.R.E allow residents to see police in a friendly, more relaxed setting, he said.

“If residents are comfortable with police, they will be more likely to let us know if they see something suspicious,” Gilman said. “We’re here to help, so if you see something, say something. In that way you’ll be helping us and you’ll be helping the community.”