Police officers, dispatchers and citizens garner awards at annual ceremony
- Peter Marteka
- May 30
- 10 min read
By Peter Marteka
Staff Writer
According to police Chief Marshall Porter the average person will experience two or three traumatic events over a lifetime. Police officers on average will experience three every six months on average.
“And over a 30-year career, it's 180 traumatic events,” he said during the department’s annual awards ceremony May 14. “The job can go from routine to dangerous in a split second. They respond to traumatic scenes, violent deaths, mental health crises, serious crashes and everyday calls.
“And it's hard to explain that to people who don't live there,” he added, “and haven't experienced it. And our folks do live, and they do experience it. Yet day after day, they show up, protect the town of Glastonbury and they do so with dignity, honesty, courage, bravery, professionalism and compassion.”
The department recognized some of those “exemplary” actions over the past year by officers, dispatchers and citizens during the ceremony.
Town Manager Jonathan Luiz said “it’s awesome to come here and hear these really inspiring stories and heroism.”
“The town council understands that these are just a microcosm of the awesome things and the heroic things that take place year-round,” he said. “We know this is the norm of people going out of their way to make themselves unsafe, to make others safe, going out of their way to do acts of bravery...But we know that this goes on all the time.”
Here are the awards that were handed out:
Officer of the Year – Officer Adrian Gajor
Since joining the Glastonbury Police Department in July of 2024, Officer Adrian Gajor has quickly distinguished himself through proactive policing, strong investigative ability, and a clear commitment to the safety of the community.
During 2025, Officer Gajor handled over 1,000 calls for service and made 16 arrests, while also playing a key role in several complex investigations involving stolen vehicles, motor vehicle burglaries, and repeat offenders. He consistently demonstrates a high level of awareness while on patrol, often identifying patterns of criminal activity through his attention to area integrity and regional intelligence. His ability to anticipate suspect behavior, position himself effectively, and coordinate with neighboring agencies has led to the identification and apprehension of offenders both within Glastonbury and in surrounding jurisdictions.
Officer Gajor’s work on the midnight shift has been particularly impactful. His vigilance, attention to detail, and willingness to act decisively have prevented further victimization and contributed directly to community safety. He is highly regarded by his supervisors and peers for his work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to the job.
Officer Brendan Lynch – Chief’s Achievement Award
On October 24, 2025, officers responded to the area of Hebron Avenue and Ridge Road for a serious motor vehicle accident involving three vehicles. Upon arrival, officers encountered a significant debris field and multiple injured individuals. The operator and passenger of the at-fault vehicle suffered serious injuries, and the passenger later succumbed to those injuries.
Officer Lynch was assigned as the investigating officer and conducted a detailed crash reconstruction. Through careful analysis of roadway evidence, vehicle damage, and electronic data, Officer Lynch was able to determine the sequence of events and establish the cause of the crash.
His work ultimately led to the identification of the at-fault operator and the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Officer Anthony Longo – Chief’s Achievement Award
On June 16, 2025, the Glastonbury Police Department received a complaint from a resident who had fallen victim to a sophisticated investment fraud scheme involving cryptocurrency, resulting in a loss of over $500,000.
Officer Longo was assigned to investigate and conducted an extensive, multi-layered investigation over the course of two months. He prepared and executed multiple search warrants and worked closely with state and federal partners to trace digital assets and identify patterns of fraudulent activity.
Through his efforts, federal authorities were able to seize over $500,000 in digital currency connected to the fraud, creating a significant opportunity for restitution to the victim.
Officer John Barrett – Certificate of Commendation
On September 28, 2024, officers from the Glastonbury Police Department responded to an attempted armed robbery in the parking lot of Stop & Shop, located at 215 Glastonbury Boulevard. A female victim reported that multiple suspects, at least one armed with a firearm, approached her vehicle, opened the door as she was preparing to leave, and demanded her purse. The victim was able to escape on foot while yelling for help, prompting the suspects to flee the area.
Officer Barrett was assigned and responded to investigate. What initially appeared to be a single incident quickly developed into a complex investigation with connections to similar robberies in other jurisdictions. Through persistence and attention to detail, Officer Barrett utilized investigative networking, DNA analysis, and multiple search warrants for digital evidence to identify several juvenile suspects involved in this and related crimes.
Over the course of several months, Officer Barrett continued to develop leads and coordinate with other agencies. His work ultimately led to the identification and arrest of one of the suspects in August of 2025, helping bring accountability in a case involving violent criminal behavior.
Lieutenant Kevin Szydlo – Certificate of Commendation
Throughout 2025, the Glastonbury Police Department undertook a major upgrade to its radio communication system, a project critical to officer safety and operational effectiveness. This initiative included infrastructure upgrades, replacement of portable and mobile radios, and improvements to dispatcher consoles.
Lieutenant Kevin Szydlo served as the project manager for this complex, year-long effort. He was responsible for coordinating with vendors, evaluating equipment options, securing pricing, and overseeing implementation. His leadership ensured that the project remained on track and was successfully completed.
As a result of Lieutenant Szydlo’s work, the department now benefits from improved communication capabilities that enhance both officer safety and service to the community.
Officer Brendan Lynch – Certificate of Commendation
On September 4, 2025, Officer Lynch conducted a motor vehicle stop on Russett Road for a suspected misuse of registration plates. During the stop, he identified that the operator had an active arrest warrant.
While conducting a pat-down, Officer Lynch located a firearm in the operator’s waistband. As he attempted to secure the weapon, the operator fled on foot. Officer Lynch quickly pursued, tackled the suspect, and took him into custody with the assistance of responding officers. A second firearm was subsequently located in the vehicle.
Further forensic analysis revealed that both firearms had been used in multiple shooting incidents in Connecticut and Massachusetts, removing dangerous weapons from circulation.
In recognition of your proactive enforcement and decisive actions, you are hereby awarded the Certificate of Commendation. Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself and are in keeping with the highest standards of the Glastonbury Police Department.
Certificate of Commendation – Sgt. Brian Barao
In April of 2025, Sergeant Barao developed an undercover online profile posing as a juvenile female for the purpose of identifying individuals seeking to exploit minors through online platforms. While conducting this operation, Sergeant Barao engaged in communications with an adult male from out of state who believed he was corresponding with a juvenile.
During the course of these communications, the suspect expressed a sexual interest in young females, requested explicit images, and indicated his intent to travel to Connecticut to meet in person. Recognizing the seriousness of the threat, Sergeant Barao conducted follow-up investigative work to identify the suspect and promptly coordinated with the law enforcement agency in the area where the suspect resided. As a result of Sergeant Barao’s efforts, the case was adopted by the appropriate agency, and an arrest warrant was ultimately obtained, holding the suspect accountable for his actions.
Investigations of this nature often require extended hours, patience, and a high level of attention to detail. In recognition of your initiative, dedication, and commitment to protecting children from exploitation, you are hereby awarded the Certificate of Commendation.
Unit Commendation – Lieutenant Anthony Pagliughi, Officer Timothy Callahan, and Officer Adrian Gajor
On November 29, 2025, at approximately 1:14 a.m., the Glastonbury Police Department received an Automated License Plate Reader alert indicating a stolen vehicle had entered town. Lieutenant Pagliughi, who was already in the area, quickly located the vehicle in the parking lot of 1 Glastonbury Place.
As Lieutenant Pagliughi approached, two suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Officer Gajor responded and located one of the suspects in the area of Trader Joe’s, where he was safely detained. At the same time, Officer Callahan, with assistance from a Manchester Police K-9 unit, conducted a search for the second suspect and successfully located and detained him nearby.
Both individuals were identified as juveniles who had been operating a stolen vehicle and were actively engaged in criminal activity when confronted.
In recognition of your teamwork, coordination, and effective response to a rapidly evolving situation, you are hereby awarded the Unit Commendation.
Unit Commendation – Laura Caruso, Sergey Sharov, John Johnson, Adrian Gajor, Timothy Callahan, Gene Jopeck, and William Little
On December 4, 2025, officers responded to Georgetown Drive for reports of active vehicle burglaries. Agent Sharov located a suspect vehicle matching the description and attempted to investigate. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, nearly striking his cruiser before leaving the roadway and crashing into a tree.
Two suspects fled on foot into a wooded area. Officer Gajor and Officer Callahan immediately began searching for the suspects while awaiting a K-9 unit. Agents Caruso and Sharov established a perimeter, while Officer Johnson secured the suspect vehicle and began processing evidence.
After an extensive search involving multiple agencies, one suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and a second suspect was later located walking along Interstate 84 in East Hartford and taken into custody. Throughout the incident, Dispatchers Jopeck and Little coordinated resources and relayed critical information to officers in the field.
In recognition of your teamwork, perseverance, and coordinated response, you are hereby awarded the Unit Commendation.
Unit Commendation – Dispatchers Brian Meloling and Cheyenne Tomcho
On November 3, 2025, at approximately 3:06 p.m., Glastonbury Police Dispatch received multiple calls reporting a large smoke condition from Cedar Ridge Drive, visible from the town center. Responding units quickly determined that a residence at 217 Cedar Ridge Drive was fully engulfed in flames.
During this incident, Dispatchers Meloling and Tomcho coordinated the response to a major structure fire while simultaneously managing routine and emergency calls for service. Over the course of the incident, they handled hundreds of radio transmissions, 911 calls, and phone communications, ensuring that all necessary resources were deployed effectively.
Their performance, marked by professionalism and composure under pressure, was later recognized in a Glastonbury Fire Department after-action review.
In recognition of your professionalism and performance under pressure, you are hereby awarded the Unit Commendation.
Unit Commendation – Agent Laura Caruso and Officer Adrian Gajor
On January 20, 2026, at approximately 3:51 a.m., the Glastonbury Police Department received an Automated License Plate Reader alert on a stolen vehicle. Agent Caruso and Officer Gajor, who were in the area, located the vehicle parked at a gas pump at Cumberland Farms. The suspect vehicle had been followed into the lot by a second vehicle, which was also later determined to be stolen.
One of the operators exited his vehicle and began walking toward the store before attempting to return to the vehicle. Officer Gajor quickly reacted, sprinted toward the suspect, and gained control of him as he entered the driver’s seat. At the same time, Agent Caruso detained the juvenile operator of the second stolen vehicle.
In recognition of your quick thinking, coordination, and decisive actions, two vehicle thieves were safely apprehended and stolen vehicles recovered, contributing to the safety and security of the Glastonbury community. Accordingly, you are hereby awarded the Unit Commendation.
Unit Commendation – Officer Justin Suarez, Officer Timothy Callahan, Officer Alex Maldonado, Agent Jobes, Dispatcher William Little, Dispatcher Cheyenne Tomcho, and Dispatcher Emily Strzalka
On September 13, 2025, officers responded to 1600 Manchester Road for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers encountered a male at the front door holding a loaded shotgun. Officer Suarez, Officer Callahan, and Officer Maldonado worked together to safely take the individual into custody and secure the firearm.
While the initial officers handled the armed subject, Agent Jobes and Officer Maldonado established and maintained a perimeter. Officer Suarez and Officer Callahan conducted a protective sweep of the residence to ensure no additional victims were inside. Once the scene was secured, Agent Jobes obtained consent to search the residence and seize firearms. Throughout the incident, Dispatchers Little, Tomcho, and Strzalka provided critical updates and relevant history to officers on scene.
Through your coordinated response and decisive actions, a potentially deadly situation involving an armed individual was safely resolved. In recognition of your professionalism, teamwork, and effective response to a dangerous situation, you are hereby awarded the Unit Commendation.
Citizen Award – Jacob Rubin
On April 4, 2016, at approximately 8:33 p.m., the Glastonbury Police Department received a report of a missing 9-year-old child. Officers began an immediate search and learned the child may have entered the Center for Children with Special Needs on Main Street.
After learning of the situation from neighbors, Jacob Rubin voluntarily joined the search efforts. He spent over an hour searching the area in cold weather conditions. and eventually located the missing child in front of 2225 Main Street, promptly notifying police.
Mr. Rubin’s actions played a direct role in the safe recovery of the child.
In recognition of your selfless actions and commitment to your community, you are hereby awarded the Citizen Award.
Citizen Award – Christina Bona
In January of 2025, Officer Conforto began planning a Women’s Self-Defense Course for Glastonbury residents and reached out to Christina Bona for assistance. Ms. Bona, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Manchester Bushido Academy, immediately agreed to help and volunteered her time and expertise to support the program.
Ms. Bona developed a comprehensive lesson plan that was accessible to participants of all ages and experience levels. Through her instruction, eight women participated in the course and gained practical skills, increased confidence, and a greater sense of personal safety. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the course as one of the most valuable and impactful programs they had attended.
Due to the success of this program, plans are already underway to offer additional courses, including one focused on college-aged young adults.
In recognition of your dedication, generosity, and commitment to empowering members of the community, you are hereby awarded the Glastonbury Police Department Citizen Award.
Porter said Glastonbury “is very, very fortunate to have the police department that we have.”
“And it's due to the hard work of all of our staff,” he said. “And the police department is very, very fortunate to have the Glastonbury community who supports us, appreciates us, and that support matters. It helps keep our community safe.
“Our partnerships, our cooperation that strengthens the trust that we have in each other,” he added. “It also makes Glastonbury one of the best places to serve, especially in a profession that's so difficult and dangerous and stressful. Officers and dispatchers do a better job knowing that the community stands with them and appreciates them.” GL