Officer Stephanie Johnson Photos.
Lt. Kenny Howell, Capt. Denise Blanchard, Officer Donna Aponte, Officer Stephanie Johnson & Retired Officer Cleveland Roach.
Assistant Police Chief Petisia Adger sent in this write-up of a recent cop-class graduation anniversary and remembrance of a fallen classmate.
On Nov. 22, police officers from the New Haven police department (State of Connecticut Municipal Police Training Council’s (MPTC) Class of 233), celebrated their 20th anniversary year as law enforcement officers in the City of New Haven. The New Haven police department graduated 25 police officers from this class.
On behalf of the entire class of 233 and in memory of their classmate, Sgt. Dario Scott Aponte (who died on September 10, 2008 as a result of an in-the-line-of-duty motor vehicle at the intersection of Chapel/East Streets), five of his classmates and his wife (New Haven Police Officer Donna Aponte ’97) placed a wreath on Sergeant Aponte’s gravesite marking their 20th year upon graduation from the academy (Mount Saint Peters Cemetery, 219 New Haven Ave., Derby).
Officer Streeter, Officer Wexler, Officer Aponte, Retired Detective Simmons, Sgt. Marino, Retired Officer Roach, Sgt. Barham, Capt. Blanchard, Lt. Reddish, Officer Colon, Officer Johnson, Detective Harkins, Detective Augustine, Lt. Howell, and Officer Turner.
The evening of Nov. 22 also brought 15 233 classmates together for dinner at Leon’s Restaurant in New Haven. The group took a nostalgic look back into those academy days and dialogued about their futures and some departures from the New Haven Police Department. Sugar Bakery & Sweet Shop, 422 Min Street, East Haven, donated the celebration cake with all the names of the officers from Class 233 displayed in the icing. They even had a surprise guest visit from Police Chief Dean Esserman to congratulate them on a milestone.