CELEBRATING THE GPD

Tracing its roots back to watchmen who roamed Greenwich Avenue at night, making sure doors were locked and there were no fires, the Greenwich Police celebrated its 125th anniversary as a department Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Riverside Yacht Club in Greenwich. More than 150 guests, including the town of Greenwich Board of Selectmen, state and federal elected officials, Greenwich Police command staff and members of the public, attended. Also, several multigenerational police families were present. The celebration included a 125th anniversary video produced by Greenwich native Kendra Farn Finz and her husband Noah Finz of P. Garyn Productions. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to the students of police officers who qualify by ability and character. 

State representatives Kimberly Fiorello, Harry Arora and state Sen. Ryan Fazio presented Chief of Police Jim Heavey with a state proclamation recognizing the anniversary.

Heavey thanked the supporters and said,””¦ Our success in maintaining a safe and orderly town would never have been possible without our community standing behind us.” He called the past year “an important remembrance of many years of faithful service, but it has helped us strengthen our foundation, which provides scholarships to family members of our officers.” Heavey also recognized the officers in attendance who had received the scholarships.

In 1896, “Watchmen” were appointed after residents realized the need for more efficient police protection in town. They were tasked with watching the stores along Greenwich Avenue at night. The Greenwich Police Department was officially formed in 1906. Some 11 years later, on June 1, 1918, Joseph J. Cornelius was sworn in as the first full-time Greenwich police officer. The department received its first patrol car in 1922, and the first police station opened in 1939.