Old Lyme — State police are seeking a new resident state trooper after Kazimera Morse was suddenly reassigned to work as part of Gov. Ned Lamont’s security team last week.

Morse began her new position on Friday, state police said. Town officials were notified about Morse’s position switch on Wednesday, just two days before Morse was to begin her new post, according to First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder.

“It was sudden,” Reemsnyder said. “But it’s rare that this would happen. There has to be a good reason for that to happen, and this was one. This was a special circumstance, so we are understanding."

State police Public Information Officer Tanya Compagnone agreed Tuesday by phone, saying that such sudden changes are not typical for resident state troopers.

“These (decisions) are up to the discretion of the trooper. In this case, she took the opportunity to go to governor’s security,” Compagnone said. “There have been a lot of changes in the governor's security with the new administration and that is normal. That happens every time a new governor comes into office and because of that, there were more opportunities for open positions there.”

Morse will be responsible for providing general security to the Lamont administration, Compagnone said, and will not be providing security to any person in particular. Her position change is not viewed as a promotion, Compagnone said, and therefore she will not receive a salary increase.

Morse began serving as Old Lyme’s resident state trooper in 2017, Reemsnyder said. She has been a state trooper since June 2014.

Filling in for Morse as a temporary replacement is Trooper First Class Thomas Kelo, a resident of Old Lyme. He, too, started in his temporary position last Friday, state police said.

Speaking on the position switch, Reemsnyder said the change has been going well, especially since Kelo already lives in town.

“I’ve known Kelo for some years now,” she said. “Everything is going well. I met with Kelo today and he is right on top of everything. It’s mostly been housekeeping to discuss with him, making sure we are taking care of what we need to take care of.”

Reemsnyder said the position change won’t disrupt regularly scheduled policing duties or shifts.

Kelo has been a state trooper since 2010 and is on the state police Special Weapons and Tactics team. He served as a road trooper for Troop K and Troop F before filling in for the resident state trooper in Essex in recent months due to a medical leave of absence.

State police began accepting applications for Morse’s permanent replacement this week. The position is expected to be filled by mid-March, Compagnone said.

Presently, Old Lyme is served by six full-time police officers and two part-time officers, aside from its resident state trooper.

Trooper Kelo can be reached by telephone at (860) 434-1986, or by calling Troop F at (860) 399-2100.

m.biekert@theday.com