Politics & Government

Jeffrey Blatter Sworn in Monday as Avon Police Captain

Blatter replaces Capt. Robert Whitty, who left the department in June to become a math teacher at Avon Old Farms School.

Former Bloomfield Police Department captain was sworn in Monday morning as captain.

Blatter, a West Suffield resident, was chosen from 19 applicants, six of which the town invited to participate in an "assessment center testing process," according to Avon Human Resources Director William Vernile.

"Jeff is well rounded in both police operations and administration and the town of Avon looks forward to his immediate contribution in these areas," Vernile wrote to Patch in an e-mail.

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He will make $101,517 annually as captain, Lt. Kelly Walsh, Avon Police Department spokesperson said.

Blatter was promoted to captain in Bloomfield in 2004. During his 23 years there, he also served as patrol officer, detective, sergeant and lieutenant. He has both command and administrative experience, Vernile said, as well as patrol, dispatch operations, information technology and payroll supervision. He was deputy director of emergency management and oversaw medical services.

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In Bloomfield, he also prepared operating and capital budgets for the department and reported annual revenue estimates. When he was lieutenant, he had to "reconcile" grant funds that others managing the Bloomfield budget did not account for, which resulted in the town only "being held liable for $50.51 instead of up to $50,000, Blatter's resume states.

As captain, he was part of a committee coordinating the design of a new town website. He also implemented a program to help reduce gun violence, as well as a crisis intervention team in Bloomfield.

Collective bargaining negotiations were a part of his role at the Bloomfield Police Department and he also participated in the grievance process. Blatter was also responsible for recruiting new officers and running a development program there.

"Jeff also has considerable experience regarding efforts of the [Bloomfield Police Department] to become CALEA accredited and maintaining accreditation," Vernile said.

Blatter replaces former Avon police captain Robert Whitty, who left in June to become a math teacher at his high school alma mater, Avon Old Farms. Whitty helped out with the accreditation process for the Avon Police Department, which was honored on March 27, 2010 with a Flagship Award for Service Excellence and Professionalism and meritorious accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Association (CALEA). The department was in the 93rd percentile for well maintained and accurate files.

During his rise through the Bloomfield Police Department ranks, Blatter commanded a regional narcotics task force and supervised internal affairs and field training officers, Vernile said. Blatter is also trained in responding to . He also helped out with Bloomfield's citizen police academy and was appointed to a local youth-adult council and juvenile review board.

"Through his years of service with the [Bloomfield Police Department], Jeff established strong organizational, interpersonal and leadership skills," Vernile said. "He has an associate's degree [from Roger Williams University] in criminal justice and maintains a strong commitment to attendance at self directed and professional development training opportunities."

Editor's Note: If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected or you have questions or a news tip to share, give Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer a ring at 860-356-6339 or shoot her an e-mail at Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com. Join in on the Avon Patch conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvonPatch) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AvonPatch).


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