Three new officers hired in December have begun classes at the Connecticut Municipal Police Academy and are scheduled to graduate in June.
The new officers include Adam James, 21, who is planning to graduate from Pace University in the fall with a major in criminal justice and a minor in history. A native of Hartford County, James is a member of the Coast Guard Reserves and comes from a police family. His father, now retired, served 32 years in law enforcement.
Bethel native Timothy Schoen, 28, is a veteran of eight years in with the U.S. Marines, serving as a platoon sergeant during two deployments to Iraq and participating in numerous humanitarian missions in North, South and Central America.
The third new officer is William W. Crone, 28, who is originally from New Hampshire and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2010, where he also played football.
Capt. Joe Rios said the additions will bring the department up to its authorized strength of 45 officers.