DONALD DAY
SOUTHWICK -The Southwick Board of Selectmen chose Donald E. Day as the town’s new police sergeant.
The decision followed interviews with four candidates – Day, Bradford Fisk, Paul Miles and Michael Taggart.
The men were asked the same 12 questions in separate interviews Monday night.
The candidates were asked to describe a situation in which they kept their cool, in spite of circumstances.
Day said remaining cool is something officers learn on the job.
“It’s a seasoned thing,” he said, recalling two instances when he kept cool and calm.
One instance was a call to a fire on Ahrend Circle. Day and another officer had to make sure the building was empty and found a woman passed out. Day said they were able to remove her from the burning building and resuscitate her.
“Another was a domestic situation,” said Day. “The door was blocked and we looked in the window and saw kids crying.”
Day and his partner entered the home and found a husband and wife “wrestling with a handgun.” The officers were able to remove the weapon but not before it was fired during the scuffle, nearly hitting the officers.
Fisk said there have been numerous incidents over the years, including bar fights, but he said responding to a bad accident is when remaining calm is most important.
“You need your head on your shoulders so your responders will keep a level head,” he said.
Miles also spoke about a domestic disturbance when he had to keep his cool.
“A gentleman struck his wife and had his hands around her neck and tried to kill her,” Miles said. “I was able to handle it without going overboard.”
Taggart recalled an incident at Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School that took place right after the Newtown shooting. A student became irate and disruptive and Taggart was able to calm him down to the point that the student shook hands with and apologized to the principal and vice principal.
All four candidates, when asked about career goals, said they wanted to advance within the department. They all also said that they had no concern with separating friendship from authority.
The sergeant would work third shift, something most candidates were not looking forward to but said was part of the job.
“It’s not an ideal shift,” said Day, “but if [the job] commands it, it’s done.”
Fisk already works third shift and said it “works” for him.
“I have been on third shift 14 of the 17-and-a-half years I’ve been here,” he said. “It works for my family and I have been shift commander about half of that time.”
The candidates were asked about policing and how the department could be more proactive.
Miles said he believes the department runs very well but having another detective and a school resource officer would help the department patrol better and more proactively.
“We have a great police department,” he said. “We have great people and great administration.”
The officers were asked about their strengths, what motivates them, and what police knowledge they have gained in the past year.
Police Chief David Ricardi said all the candidates were well qualified, and the selectmen touted the candidates merits across the board.
“I am very impressed,” said Board Chairman Russell Fox.
Day’s promotion is effective immediately.
