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Sworn in at City Hall were: Edgar Gonzalez of Stamford; Sara Laudano, a New Jersey resident who grew up in North Haven; and Lindsey Taylor, a Monroe resident formerly of Norwalk.
All three were scheduled to report Thursday for orientation at the Police Academy in Meriden, where they will spend the next six months training for their new jobs.
“These are three good candidates,” said Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik, noting two of the new officers are women. “Women are very difficult to find, so it’s really great to have two new female officers. It’s nice to keep a diverse workforce.”
Gonzalez, Laudano and Taylor join nearly 180 officers currently serving in Norwalk, he said, noting about 300 candidates took the initial written exam.
Taylor has spent years working in emergency services, most recently spending 12 years with Greenwich EMS.
“I was looking for something that would give me new opportunities for advancement,” she said.
She’s well aware of what she’s getting into: Her husband, Carl Johnson, has been a Greenwich police officer for 15 years.
“I’m proud of her and I’m excited for her,” he said after pinning her badge on her jacket.
Gonzalez said he’s been interested in becoming a police officer since he joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) in high school.
“I’ve always loved and admired the law enforcement lifestyle,” he said. “We’ll be officers when in uniform and out.”
Laudano said she’s looking forward to attending the academy with two other city officers and will look for a new home in Connecticut when she graduates in July.
“I’m a people person,” she said of her reasons for joining the force. “I love interacting with people. And every day is different.”
Rilling commended the new officers for choosing Norwalk.
“I have a true feeling for the department and the men and women who serve,” he said. “The patrol officers are the backbone of the department and there are also opportunities to advance through the ranks.”
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