Stonington — Veteran Montville police Sgt. Robert Sundman was sworn in Wednesday morning as the newest officer in the Stonington police department.

Sundman, who grew up in town and lives here with his family, also serves on the town’s K-12 School Building Committee, which is currently renovating Deans Mill and West Vine Street schools.

“He’s invested in the community,” Capt Todd Olson said.

Sundman had worked in Montville since 2004. In 2012, he received a outstanding service award from the state police for apprehending a fleeing suspect who drove into a police cruiser and later admitted to committing larcenies in Montville, New London and Waterford.

Unlike new officers who have to spend 26 weeks at the police academy and then an extensive amount of time with a field training officer, Olson said Sundman will be able to begin patrols in a little more than a month after he familiarizes himself with the department’s policies and does some abbreviated field training. He will work as a patrolman.

“He’s got a lot of experience you just can’t buy,” said Olson, adding that Sundman is also a firearms instructor. “With his vested interest in the town coupled with his training and experience, he’s a good fit with the talented officers we have already.”