By Ann DeMatteo
New Haven Register
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. — A five-star dad and cop hung up his holster Friday.
Patrol Officer Stephen Suchy, 51, of Guilford, is retiring after 27 1/2 years with the Police Department to become an investigator in the public defender’s office in Bridgeport. He starts his new job Friday.
“It’s a career job, a very good job. I’m excited,” said Suchy.
Daughters Mia, 6, and Alexa, 4, who have enjoyed visiting the police station, used markers to write “Congratulations Dad” with five stars and color hearts on the white board in the police training room while well-wishers were having cake and coffee. They were with Suchy’s wife and their mother, Barbara, and her mother, Louis Miolene.
“Steve was a very versatile officer. He wore a lot of hats,” Police Chief James X. DiCarlo said to the town employees and officers who gathered.
“I like to think the young officers looked up to him as a role model because of the different things he was involved in and his background. We’ve always had a good working relationship. I wish him a lot of luck,” said DiCarlo.
DiCarlo said that while Suchy spent his entire career in patrol, he took on leadership roles, such as firearms instructor and senior training instructor. He also was a certified sniper, a member of the SWAT team and he trained fellow officers in use of force and defensive tactics. That’s where Suchy’s background in the Marines helped. He also is an emergency medical technician.
“He’s just a great guy, a cop’s cop,” said Detective Mark Guidone.
“He’s great, a straight-up guy,” said Officer John Norden.
A member of the North Haven High School class of 1976, Suchy joined the Marines delay program when he was in high school, working weekends in New Haven. The day after graduation, he went to boot camp. He was hired as a police officer June 28, 1982.
Suchy said he always liked going to calls, so he stayed in the patrol division.
“I liked being first at a scene. I liked being on the road.” That’s why he interviewed for the public defender job: They were looking for an investigator on the street. “I’ll be investigating people’s innocence. I think it will be neat.”
Suchy said he is sad to leave the Police Department, but there are positives.
Someone new will get hired, and others will get to take the other positions he held.
“It makes me feel good,” Suchy said.
The Police Commission has made conditional offers to two candidates who were part of an established list. The department is waiting for the results of their physicals. One will replace Suchy and the other, Stanley Girard, a patrol officer who retired a few months ago.
DiCarlo expects them to be on the job by mid-September, and to attend the Police Academy by October.
Copyright 2009 ProQuest Information and Learning