Officer of the Year
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic there was no Officer of the Year awarded for the years 2020 and 2021.
We look forward to working with the Exchange Club for future Officer of the Year awards.
Patrolman Milardo
2019 EXCHANGE CLUB OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Old Saybrook Department of Police Services based this year’s Exchange Club Officer of the Year Award Nomination on specific criteria. The selected law enforcement professional must demonstrate perseverance, leadership while being a dedicated team member, and overall exemplary service to the Police Department while possessing superior investigatory skills, the ability to be proactive in seeking out law violators, superior service to the Old Saybrook community, and serving as a role model and true example to other law enforcement professionals. We are pleased to recommend Patrolman Stephanie Milardo for the Old Saybrook / Westbrook Exchange Club’s 2019 Officer of the Year Award.
Patrolman Stephanie Milardo joined the Old Saybrook Department of Police Services in 2013 as a Public Safety Dispatcher. Patrolman Milardo was then promoted to the position of Patrolman in 2015. She is a well-respected member of the Department’s Patrol Division and has recently been appointed as our newest Field Training Officer. She will be responsible for training new officers when they graduate from the police academy as she exemplifies a modern day model law enforcement professional.
Over the past year, Patrolman Milardo, based much on her own initiatives, has significantly contributed to the Department’s traditional law enforcement efforts. She has demonstrated a sincere commitment in keeping our waterways and roadways safe for boaters, vehicle operators, and pedestrians. This is exemplified with each marine patrol and regular patrol shift she works. She consistently conducts her enforcement duties in the most professional of manners treating all with dignity and respect.
Her unique skill set in detecting those who are recklessly operating vehicles while under the influence of narcotics has proved to keep Old Saybrook’s roadways safe as the community realizes an increase of “drugged driving” related offenses. Patrolman Milardo is certified in “Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) that allows her to detect drug impaired driving. Combating those who are misusing narcotics, including marijuana, are important safety related tasks that must be performed by law enforcement officers everywhere to keep the public safe.
Patrolman Milardo was also responsible for the arrest of several individuals involved in a retail theft ring last year. The incident initially unfolded quickly, leading to a high speed vehicle pursuit. Through her investigative efforts, subjects were later identified and arrested over the course of several months.
Among the many criminal arrests made by Patrolman Milardo in 2018, two dangerous felons were arrested, charged, and convicted on serious Domestic Violence violations, allowing victims to no longer live in fear of their abusers.
Most significantly, Patrolman Milardo investigated multiple sexual assaults in the past year. These cases involved hundreds of hours of investigatory work. Her dedication to the victims of crime, her desire to seek out the truth, as well as to speak for those who have no voice led to the arrest of sexual predators and protection of their victims.
Patrolman Milardo is an example to all in our profession, but also to young woman who have a sense of duty and a desire to serve their community as law enforcement officers.
The Town of Old Saybrook is blessed knowing that its Department of Police Services stands at the ready with a very loyal, talented, professional law enforcement staff that is dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens and visitors of our special community.
Patrolman Milardo is truly a valued member of the Old Saybrook Department of Police Services.
This is the first time that Patrolman Milardo has been awarded the coveted Exchange Club Officer of the Year Award.