Naugatuck Police Department Promotes Six to Leadership Positions

Editor's Note: Lt. Brian Newman has an associates degree from Naugatuck Valley Community College. A previous version of this article mis-stated his level of degree.

NAUGATUCK - The held a promotional ceremony in the parish hall at Wednesday night to honor six members of the department who have recently been promoted to leadership positions.

Several local dignitaries, family members and friends of those being honored filled the hall during the impressive hour-long ceremony that, in some cases, included family members pinning new badges on the uniforms of the officers.

“This is an opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the hard work of some of our dedicated employees,” said Police Chief Christopher Edson, adding that being able to promote people to leadership roles is one of the most rewarding aspects of his job.

"You take on the added duties and responsibilities of being leaders to other members within the department," he said. 

Mayor Bob Mezzo called the department one of the finest in the state and thanked department members for their many sacrifices.

The following is a list of people who were promoted, along with some brief biographies of each person as provided to Naugatuck Patch by Chief Edson:

Todd Brouillette, who was promoted to captain, is a 25-year veteran of the Naugatuck Police Department and a life-long Naugatuck resident who attended and graduated from local schools.

His career with the Naugatuck Police Department began in 1987, when he was assigned to the patrol division. In 1992, he was assigned to the detective division as a detective, during which time he investigated numerous major cases.

In 1994, he was promoted to sergeant and was assigned as a supervisor on the evening patrol shift. In 1995, he was assigned as a sergeant within the detective division, where he supervised all criminal investigations and conducted internal affairs investigations.

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1996 and was assigned to the midnight shift in the patrol division. In 1997, he was assigned as the lieutenant of the detective division, a position he has served in for the past 15 years. As a detective lieutenant, Brouillette was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the detective division, as well as handling of all building, maintenance and fleet matters. He is also a sworn federal task force officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Highlights of his career include:

• He attended the 182^nd Session of the FBI Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Va.
• Was named the Exchange Club’s “Policeman of the Year,” in 2005
• He has received several department commendations
• In 1992, Brouillette received a commendation for saving an individual’s life
• In 1999, he received a “meritorious service award” for the apprehension of a bank robber
• In 2005, he received a meritorious service award for conducting “Operation Save Our Streets,” an undercover narcotics operation that resulted in 43 arrests
• In 2009, he received a “unit citation” for assisting with the apprehension of an armed and barricaded suspect, and in 2010, he received a meritorious service award for his role in “Operation Cease Fire,” a joint operation with the ATF and Waterbury Police that resulted in 37 arrests

Brian Newman, who was promoted to lieutenant, attended the Naugatuck school system and served in the U.S. Marine Corps following graduation from Naugatuck Valley Community College, where he earned an associates degree in Criminal Justice. 

He was hired as a police officer for Naugatuck in 1998 and attended the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the patrol division, where he served in several different capacities, including Field Training Officer, emergency response team member, a member of the COPPS unit, and as a POST-certified police instructor. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2008 and has primarily been assigned as an evening shift supervisor. He also helped form and is a member of the Naugatuck Police Department Honor Guard, and has served as the field training officer coordinator, where he helped develop and implement the department’s current field training program. He continues to serve as the department’s recruitment officer, which, coupled with his police instructor activities, has contributed to the Naugatuck Police Department forging successful partnerships both here in the Naugatuck Valley and throughout the state.

Bryan Cammarata, who was promoted to lieutenant, is a 12-year veteran of the Naugatuck Police Department and has been a police officer for 19 years. He began his career in Charlotte, N.C., working for the Mecklenburg County Sherriff’s Office and the Huntersville Police Department. He was assigned to the jail, Transport, Fugitive warrants, and patrol divisions.

He began his employment with the Naugatuck Police Department in August of 2000 and has worked a patrol officer, field training officer, motor officer, accident reconstruction team member, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant and is a member of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Accident Reconstruction Team.

Sgt. Derek Poundstone was hired as a Police Officer in the Naugatuck Police Department in 2004, and was assigned to the Patrol Division following academy graduation. Managing to find the time to balance his career as a police officer with his passion for weight training, Poundstone entered his first professional Strongman competition in late 2004. Since that time, he has managed to become the most decorated American Strongman in four decades, winning five major strongman titles, all while continuing to serve the citizens of Naugatuck as a police officer.

In addition to his duties as a police officer, Poundstone trains in the gym for three hours a day, five days a week, and recently opened his own gym, the Poundstone Performance Training Center located in Waterbury, Conn. He also hosts Poundstone Power Radio on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, travels the world as a spokesman for Solae, LLC, the world’s largest provider of soy, and in 2011 was named the first-ever Global Ambassador for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. His most recent assignment at the Naugatuck Police Department was a patrolman on the day shift, but he has also served as a Field Training Officer, a School Resource Officer at Naugatuck High School, and as the Department’s Special Olympics liaison.

Peter Bosco, who was promoted to sergeant, realized his dream of becoming a Naugatuck police officer in 1996 when he joined the Naugatuck Police Department. Throughout his 16 years of service, Bosco has served in various positions and units within the department. He served as a field training officer for 12 years, preparing numerous police recruits for their positions as police officers. Bosco had also served as a members of the department’s Community Oriented Policing Unit, which was responsible for addressing quality of life issues and deterring crime. He has attended numerous training courses throughout his career, including the prestigious High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area course hosted by the New York Police Department, FBI, DEA and ATF. He has received many awards from Mother’s Against Drunk Driving for his proficient enforcement of Connecticut’s DUI laws, as well as a departmental commendation for outstanding service for apprehending an armed robbery suspect. He is currently assigned to day shift patrol, where he enjoys patrolling the same Union City streets he grew up on.

John Hutt, a 14-year veteran of the Naugatuck Police Department, was promoted to sergeant.

After graduating college, Sgt. Hutt worked for The Harford Insurance Company for 13 years before pursuing his dream of being a police officer. He was hired by the Naugatuck Police Department in January 1998, and was assigned to the patrol division following academy graduation. During his years with the Naugatuck Police Department, he served as a union steward and a field training officer, where he trained police recruits on the department’s midnight shift.