Selectmen promote Johnson to sergeant

0 Comments | Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA), March 11, 2008

Byline: Bill Fortier

AUBURN - A veteran patrolman was named sergeant last night by the Board of Selectmen.

About a dozen police officers attended last night's meeting to see Jay Johnson, 49, who joined the police force June 6, 1984, be appointed sergeant by the panel that was acting on the recommendation of Police Chief Andrew J. Sluckis Jr.

Sgt. Johnson said after the meeting that he will begin his duties as a sergeant today.

"I'm very happy about it," Sgt. Johnson said of his appointment.

Sgt. Johnson finished first in the civil service test for the post, Chief Sluckis said after the meeting. The other candidates were Patrolmen Todd Hammond, Spiros Kaperonis and Justin Starkus.

In a memo to selectmen, Chief Sluckis said Sgt. Johnson is certified as a fingerprint and evidence collection technician who is assigned to the Auburn Bureau of Police Investigation. While working as a patrolman, Sgt. Johnson received extensive training in advanced accident reconstruction, the chief said in the memo. Currently the police department's court officer, Sgt. Johnson also has certificates in motorcycle accident investigation and occupant safety protection.

Sgt. Johnson "can be found helping parents install car seats as part of his occupant protection responsibilities," Chief Sluckis said in the memo.

Sgt. Johnson, who has been responsible for coordinating and organizing traffic-related issues at special events such as the annual Independence Day celebration, received a master's degree in criminal justice from Western New England College in July 2002.

There are currently six sergeants on the police force.

After the meeting, Patrolman Hammond said his last day on the force is Monday. The 10-year veteran said he is going to be working in computer forensics in the senior fraud investigation department at Citizens Financial Group in North Providence, R.I.

NAME: AUBURN SELECTMEN; AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT