Sections

Neighborhoods

Features

Follow Us

NHI Newsletter

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

From Nursing Home Cook To Rookie Cop

by Allan Appel | Apr 2, 2010 6:45 pm

(4) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Cop of the Week

Allan Appel Photo copoftheweek_logo.jpgWhen 36-year-old Gene Trotman, Jr. raised his hand and took the solemn oath to be a New Haven police officer, he completed a journey that took him from cooking at a Waterbury nursing home to walking a beat in the Elm City.

As he received his badge, he and his family reflected on how maybe his old and his new jobs are not so different after all.

Officer Trotman was one of 34 Police Academy graduates (he’s pictured on the right, with training Sgt. David Sydnor) including seven women, sworn in at a teary-eyed, boisterous, whistle-filled, “You-Go-Girl” ceremony that filled up the auditorium of Hillhouse High on Thursday afternoon.

Trotman’s family, at least 25 strong, came out to offer kisses, high fives, and congratulations. Many, especially the women, had been inspirations and role models for him to make what appears to be a major occupational shift in his life.

According to his mom, Sylvia Hill, there’s a value that unites the two jobs.

“In a nursing home you take care of people at the end of their lives,” Hill said. “They’re [both jobs] both helping, but instead of just helping people to pass away, it’s helping them to live.”

It was the 15th class graduated since the reconstitution of the academy. Officer in Charge of Training Capt. Patrick Redding said this class was one of the most well-prepared and mature.

At age 37, Trotman was not the oldest graduate. That honor went to Sean Sullivan, age 48, who was designated the class leader. In his remarks he mentioned that the class has two army vets and two marines. Officer Julie Hill had wanted her brother Jason to be at the ceremony, but he was serving in Afghanistan, Sullivan added.

It was not only the spirit of wanting to serve that animated Trotman’s change of occupation. His family is full of people in the helping professions. His wife Soraida (pictured at the top of the story with daughters Alaysia and India) is a family therapist in the state’s juvenile justice system. Her two sisters are social workers; they value their work.

“I’d do my job for nothing,” Soraida said.

Gene Trotman had grown weary of the nursing home. “I worked a job I didn’t want t to work. My wife loves her job, and I wanted one too. And to serve the community,” he said.

Which is why he worked so hard during the six months of the training, physically and mentally. Trotman’s daughter India remembered him hunkered over the kitchen table doing his homework, as she was doing hers. The recruits were assigned to read three books related to New Haven and criminal justice, to write papers—and, of course, do all those push-ups.

Of the 41 who started training, 34 finished. Two officers from Stamford also trained with the class and were sworn in at the ceremony by Stamford officials. Five father officers (active or retired) presented diplomas to their sons and one daughter. Officer Angelo Mauriello (pictured) received his diploma from his dad and brother, both active officers on the NHPD.

In the view of Trotman’s younger sister Lowanda, the hardest part of the training for her brother was the pepper spray. He had to be able to function well enough to carry through an arrest after he was pepper-sprayed himself. The anticipation of that preoccupied him. “He handled it like a trooper,” she reported.

Trotman is starting a new tradition in his family, or rather pioneering a different way to be of service. When he was accepted in the academy, the whole family was informed except his grandmother Mary Hill (pictured). “I raised him. He thought I would worry,” she surmised.

She supports his decision fully now. “I know God will protect him,” she reasoned. She cited an omen to that effect: Four weeks after Gene Trotman left his job, the nursing home closed down.

Hill also predicted Trotman will succeed in whatever job he chooses “because he knows how to treat people.”

Her remark echoed Mayor John DeStefano’s charge to the graduates: “You are here to serve, not to police. There is a difference.”

Fairly worn out from hugs, Trotman said he was on his way to celebrate with his family at a seafood dinner.

The next challenge: new officers hit the streets paired with veterans for several months of field training.

 


Read other installments in the Independent’s “Cop of the Week” series:

• Shafiq Abdussabur
• Maneet Bhagtana
• Scott Branfuhr
• Dennis Burgh
• Sydney Collier
• David Coppola
• Joe Dease
• Milton DeJesus
• Brian Donnelly
• Anthony Duff
• Bertram Etienne
• Paul Finch
• Jeffrey Fletcher
• Renee Forte
• Marco Francia
• William Gargone
• William Gargone & Mike Torre
• Jon Haddad & Daniela Rodriguez
• Dan Hartnett
• Ray Hassett
• Robin Higgins
• Ronnell Higgins
• Racheal Inconiglios
• Hilda Kilpatrick
• Amanda Leyda
• Anthony Maio
• Steve McMorris
• Stephanie Redding
• Tony Reyes
• Luis & David Rivera
• Salvador Rodriguez
• Brett Runlett
• David Runlett
• Marcus Tavares
• Martin Tchakirides
• Stephan Torquati
• Kelly Turner
• John Velleca
• Alan Wenk
• Michael Wuchek
• David Zannelli
• David Zaweski


(To suggest an officer to be featured, contact us here.)

 

Share this story with others.

Share |

Post a Comment

Comments

posted by: here4u on April 2, 2010  7:30pm

My congrats to Officer Gene Trotman, Jr. I wish you a successful and safe career in the service of the public interest.  Please be careful and remember the two most important jobs are managing the stress (find an outlet that your daughters would approve of) and taking care of your family.

posted by: kamb on April 3, 2010  12:40pm

Not even one day on the job and he gets the honor of cop of the week?!?!?!?! How does that happen?

I wish him luck, but Cop of the Week? Not derserved.

posted by: brother leo on April 4, 2010  5:35am

At least there is 1 story comming out of this academy class that is possitive.  13 weeks of FTO and then he will be a police officer for real, good luck ...

posted by: Anon on April 6, 2010  9:59am

Mayor John said, “You are here to serve not to police” Now I know why the crime rate is high!!! Is that what he told the new Chief? What up Mayor the police are to police and serve!!!!

get ANDI

Events Calendar

loading…

SeeClickFix »

Pickup blows through light.
May 22, 2012 10:08 am
Address: North Frontage And Dwight New Haven, CT
Rating: 1

Watch the video:...

more »
Timing Off
May 22, 2012 9:26 am
Address: 152 Bassett Street New Haven, CT
Rating: 2

The light on Bassett Street at Shelton Avenue is unbelievably slow. When there's no traffic...

more »

Flyerboard

Sponsors

N.H.I. Site Design & Development

smartpill design