Five new Westport police officers complete academy training

Five Westport police officers recently completed training at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden.

Officers John J. Lachioma, James M. Loomer, Scott C. Morrison, Michael J. Ruttenber and Paul M. Wargo were presented their diplomas at graduation exercises held Wednesday for the 328th Basic Training Session at the academy.

Also attending from the Westport Police Department were Chief Alfred Fiore, Deputy Chief Dale Call, Capt. Samuel Arciola and Capt. Foti Koskinas.

The graduation ceremony capped an intensive 22-week training session for the five new officers.

Loomer received a firearms award for completing his weapons qualification with a perfect score, and Ruttenber was a class sergeant.

Four of the officers will begin a 400-hour field training program on Friday. Ruttenber, also a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, will begin field training in August after he attends his annual training.

The new officers' graduation comes after a selection process that began with a written exam last October, a process that requires nearly one year to complete from testing to certification as a police officer following their field training. It is anticipated that the five officers will be ready to patrol on their own sometime this October.