Darien Police Commission Promotes Five Officers By Unanimous Vote

“The relatively large number of promotions for a department of this size truly reshapes our command staff and brings new energy to an organization I am very proud of," Chief Duane Lovello said. "The broad spectrum of talent and experience carried by these five individuals positions the department very well."

The promotions will take effect Sunday, July 24.

Lt. Raymond Osborne will now command the Field Services Bureau, earning the rank of captain following 32 years of service. The bureau includes the patrol, detective, youth and marine divisions.

Osborne, who joined the Darien Police Department in 1983, also serves as the commander of the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team Hostage Negotiation Unit, supervises the department's domestic violence unit and is an adjunct professor at Housatonic Community College.

Sgt. Robert Shredders gained the rank of lieutenant after 26 years on the force and has been assigned to the patrol division. Shredders formerly was a firearms instructor, a member of the emergency response team and, until recently, supervised the training division during his time as a sergeant.

Thomas "TJ" Whyte also was promoted from sergeant to a lieutenant working in the patrol division. A 12-year veteran, Whyte previously worked in the detective division and training division and was in the patrol division before this promotion. He is a POSTC-certified field training officer and taser instructor, as well as a certified member of the department’s crisis intervention team and a member of the accident investigation team. 

After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut, Whyte was the recipient of the Gold Medal of Excellence in Criminal Justice Award while gaining his M.A. in criminal justice from Sacred Heart University.

The department's newest sergeant is former Detective Andrew Mastroianni, who graduated as the 'Top Shot' of his police academy training class in 2006. Mastroianni is a member of the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team and the department’s crisis intervention team.

Joining Mastroianni in the promotion to sergeant is Detective Saverio "Sam" Boccuzzi after 27 years on the force. Boccuzzi currently holds a department record as a 13-time winner of its "Top Shot" award and has been president of the Darien Police Association the past five years.

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