New London ― After four years of being both a state representative and a city police officer, Anthony Nolan is putting away his officer’s uniform for good.

Nolan, 55, has spent all 23 years of his law enforcement career in the New London Police Department. Along the way he said he’s tried to change the negative perceptions of cops in the community and found a voice as a politician; two things that have not been easy to balance.

At this point in his career, he said it was either moving up in rank or focusing his efforts on his family and being a legislator.

Nolan chose the latter.

“It’s my season to step away from law enforcement and work to legislate on a different level, working closer with the mayor, City Council and constituents,” Nolan said.

Police Chief Brian Wright said Nolan was a great asset to the department and the community.

“We wish him nothing but the very best in his next chapter,” Wright said.

The day has come for my journey to shift. 23 years, 23 days. As of May 1, 2023 I will be Retired from the New London Police Department. You'll see me more in a suit just no longer in a uniform. I will still be serving New London as State Representative.
God bless pic.twitter.com/Ty5Ldq41sH

— Anthony Nolan (@RepNolanCT39th) May 1, 2023

Nolan, who grew up between Massachusetts with his mother and the island of Bermuda with his father, first saw himself as a police officer when he was a kid. He grew to later dislike police from what he saw in his community.

But that was until he met a Black Massachusetts state police officer who was the father of a friend. Nolan said he was a little bit of trouble-maker back then and the trooper ― who noticed Nolan’s father wasn’t around― made sure he behaved.

“Meeting him made me want to become an officer,” Nolan said.

After graduating from Pittsfield High School, Nolan joined the Navy for several years. Becoming a single father, Nolan got out of the military to give his son Teaurean a regular school life and eventually enrolled in the police academy.

He landed a job in New London and never left.

Nolan spent a third of his career as a school resource officer and built lasting relationships within the community. Nolan said it was rewarding being in the position as a Black police officer although some people did not agree with his way of policing.

Nolan’s said his instinct wasn’t to arrest someone unless he was ordered to in the case of serious crimes and domestic violence.

“My goal wasn’t always to arrest them first... it was to help solve the situation and find the root issue of what was going on,” he said.

As a school resource officer, Nolan said his phone number was available to all and parents would call him concerned about their child, seeking his guidance. Nolan was also very involved in community events, started the Impact Youth program and played a critical role in the New London Talent Show for the city’s children and teens.

Curtis Goodwin, co-founder of the talent show, said he saw Nolan be a mentor to many participating in the program, and was a mentor to him as a Black official in the city. Goodwin is a former city councilor.

“I’m excited to see what’s next (for him) and I’m hopeful that somebody else will step up as a community officer,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin said Nolan’s success comes from his dedication to the youth, knowing people in the community by name, and being a peace officer. He said Nolan will now use his position in the General Assembly to speak for people whose voices are typically not heard.

Path to the legislature

Nolan started on his path to politics by joining the Board of Education in 2007 when he was still a school resource officer and his son was in the school system. After that he ran for City Council and served four terms.

In 2019, Nolan won a special election to fill a vacant House seat representing the 39th District when Chris Soto took a job as legislative affairs director for Gov. Ned Lamont. Nolan was re-elected to the seat in 2022.

Something that has remained a priority for Nolan is changing the narrative that all cops are bad, especially after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020.

“Seeing things like that ate at me,” he said. “It was hard seeing people resent police for the bad things some did.”

Nolan said he was a 100% supporter of the state’s controversial Police Accountability Bill that some people felt attacked officers. One of the biggest concerns was the removal of qualified immunity for his colleagues but he said that was not changed.

“I really believed the bill would make a change to Connecticut, not to hurt police, but to stop any chances of things getting worse in the world and to protect our community,” he said.

Nolan said a few years from now data will show what has or has not worked since the bill has been in effect.

Although it’s “bittersweet” leaving the police department, Nolan said he is ready to focus on legislation in the areas of social justice, education and speaking up for “lower income folks.” Selected as chair of the legislature's Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, he said he will work hard for veterans.

Nolan often worked night shifts as an officer and used vacation and non-paid days to go to Hartford during the legislative session. He said he is looking forward to being at home more with his wife, giving more time to his church and reviving past youth programs.

j.vazquez@theday.com