Southington Council Honors Retired Responders

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The town's top elected body recently paid tribute to 21 men who recently retired from either the fire or police departments the past two years.

Each was awarded certificates recognizing their experience serving the town.

The ceremony was at the Southington Town Council's June 27 meeting in the John Weichsel Municipal Center Assembly Room.

According to Southington Town Council Chairperson Victoria Triano, the amount of experience lost when the 21 retired amounts to 306 years from the Southington Fire Department and 310 years from the Southington Police Department.

Retired police officers honored last month were:

• Officer Jeremy Busa, whose 20-year career as a patrolman was cut short due to a work-related injury. He started as a dispatcher and, eventually, worked on the accident reconstruction team.

• Det. Jeremy Lewis, who retired from a 35-year career in law enforcement. He made his mark in the department's narcotics unit and was a member of the department's original emergency response team.

• Sgt. Mark Beal, who was a patrolman, detective and is known for being adept at solving computer crimes and utilizing forensics.

• Officer Melvin Edmond, who formerly worked for the state Department of Correction before serving Southington police for 19 years. His diverse experience included time as a canine officer, an ATV officer and an expert in enforcing drug and motor vehicle laws.

•Lt. John Suski, who was a patrolman, detective and a lead investigator for some of the town's "most notorious crimes," according to the June 27 meeting minutes.

• Sgt. Jeffrey Dobratz, who specialized in training fellow officers, serving time as a field training officer. He also was the departments court liaison.

• Sgt. Steve Salerno, who started in the patrol division and, eventually, became an accomplished canine handler. He was also active in the department's narcotics division, managed the canine division and was union president.

•Master Sgt. Michael Kahn, who started at a patrolman and then became the department's tech officer. A known marksman, he was also a patrol sergeant and a shift commander.

• Lt. Steve Elliot, who served in the department's patrol division. Elliot was also a member of the accident reconstruction team and commanded the patrol division, among other roles.

• Sgt. Timothy Wilke, who was on the department's patrol division, also serving as one of the first negotiators in the department.

• Master Sgt. Michael Gallo, who garnered early law enforcement experience at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. A veteran of the U.S. Army's special forces, Gallo was a firearms instructor and member of the department's first emergency response team.

• Sgt. Thomas Porter, whose 26-year local law enforcement career was preceded by multiple family members. Porter was a field training officer and part of the department's motorcycle unit.

Retired firefighters honored were:

• Training officer John Thompson, whose 25-year career saw him training many of the department's firefighters.

• Fire inspector Robert Hunt, who led the department's community risk and fire prevention programs, specializing in the elderly.

• Deputy Chief Scott DiBattista, a 26-year veteran who played a major role in the department's training division.

• Lt. Thomas Golec, a 38-year veteran who also implemented many training division reforms over the years.

• Deputy Fire Marshal John Solury, who was a firefighter for 27 years, including the last three in the fire marshal's office.

• Officer Robert Oullette, whose 35-year career included 20 years as a line officer and time as Engine Co. 2's president.

• Training Officer Tom O'Hara, a 37-year department veteran who spent two decades as the company's training officer. He's still active with Engine Co. 2.

•Line Officer Fred Ottalagana, who spent 34 years with Southington's department, including 16 years as a line officer.

• Capt. Ed Ozga, who joined the department in 1993 and spent the next 28 years serving the town. His whole career was at Engine Co. 3 in Milldale.

For the minutes of the June 27 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.