Waterford ― Town Clerk David Campo swore in three recently hired police officers at a badge pinning ceremony last Thursday, including a seasoned Plainfield officer and another who, in his brief career with the department, has stopped a car carrying Michael Jordan.

Family members of the three officers pinned them with their badges, as other relatives, friends, state and town officials and fellow officers looked on.

Police Chief Marc Balestracci said by the time of their pinning, all three had worked with the department for months. The ceremony closed the hiring process.

Julie Jordan, 25, of Sterling, transferred from the Plainfield Police Department. She graduated from Plainfield High School, then earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology and sociology from Eastern Connecticut State University. She began in Plainfield in 2020, where she served as a physical fitness assessment examiner and was on their regional SWAT team with the Willimantic Police Department, and a use-of-force instructor.

“I have to thank everyone in the PD for making this such an easy transition into the new department” Jordan said. “Everyone’s been extremely welcoming. It’s honestly a lot of fun coming to work, and I very much enjoy it here.”

Her mother, Rebecca Tatro, pinned her badge.

Dylan Luce, 29, of Niantic, graduated from East Lyme High School, went to the University of Connecticut to study physical therapy before serving in the United States Marine Corps from 2017 to 2021. In the Marines, he served as a military police officer and on their Special Response Team.

Luce thanked his family.

“They’ve always supported me for everything I’ve done, giving me that safety that I really needed to actually take these leaps,” Luce said. “I’m very excited for the next 25 years of my life.”

Tanner Suplita, 27, of Windham, graduated from Norwich Free Academy, then earned a degree in criminal justice from Three Rivers Community College. He served in the Army’s in the 82nd Airborne Division, as a team leader, from 2015 to 2020. His wife, Alexis Suplita, pinned his badge on.

“If you want any indication of how Tanner’s career is going to go, consider this,” Balestracci said, explaining that when Tanner began patrolling “the first car he stopped was an FBI agent. Last week, he stopped a car and the passenger in the rear seat was NBA legend Michael Jordan. So, he is going to be the guy that finds himself in the middle of stuff.”

Recalling the Jordan stop, Suplita said it had been routine.

“They were going almost 60 in a 45. I lit him up. And some dude hops out of the passenger seat. And naturally I’m like, ‘Hey, what are you doin’?’ And he goes ‘You don’t understand, I have Michael Jordan in the car.’ And I lost my police (voice). I go ‘No way. For real?’ ”

“So I walk up, I get the driver’s license. I run it. Do everything. I’m trying to get them out of there quick. Because it’s a caravan. There’s multiple (Ford) Expeditions. And you can’t see it on body cam. He didn’t lower the windows, I should have had him lower the windows.” he said. “It was a passenger side approach. I go up to the A-pillar and I just peer back there. And I don’t know, I guess it was his wife. I didn’t know he was married. I saw Michael Jordan in the back. I said, ‘Oh, woah! That’s the Michael Jordan!”

Suplita said he told them, “You guys have a good night. Be on your way.”

He didn’t realize it at the time, but there was a Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement game being held at Mohegan Sun casino, between the University of Connecticut and University of Rhode Island.

Asked who might be a better stop than Michael Jordan, Suplita thought for a moment.

“I don’t know. Jesus?” he answered. “How do you top Michael Jordan? Tom Brady? Edelman? Jeter maybe?”

d.drainville@theday.com