Norwich swears in 5 as police recruits

Norwich — There are five new police recruits after a swearing-in ceremony at city police headquarters Wednesday, bringing the Norwich Police Department up to an 85-person force.

It's the latest influx of new police officers after the department welcomed two former New London officers on Monday.

Joel T. Ethier, of Columbia, Christopher A. Hawrylik, of North Stonington, and Dennis M. Bialowas, Zachary D. Desmond and Anthony V. Marceau, all of Norwich, were sworn in Wednesday afternoon and will head to the state police academy in Meriden on Friday.

Peter M. Karasuk, of Hopkinton, R.I. and F. Steven Callender, of Ledyard, were hired Monday after each spending two years at the New London Police Department. Both have already completed the police academy, Norwich Chief Louis J. Fusaro Sr. said.

Fusaro said the additions come as the department shifts its focus to increasing community policing. Before this week's hires, the department had 79 members, Fusaro said, the lowest number in a decade.

But, with the support of the Mayor and City Council, Fusaro said the department is well on its way to fulfilling a five-year strategic staffing plan.

"Over the last decade our staffing went down 13 percent and our population went up 12 percent," Fusaro said. "This is a start."