Crime & Safety

Veteran West Hartford Police Officer Retires, Two Promoted

Officer Art Yepes retires after nearly 23 years.

The West Hartford Police Department held a ceremony Friday morning, celebrating the retirement of one veteran officer and announcing the promotion of two others.

Officer Art Yepes, who joined the West Hartford police in Dec. 1989, retired on Oct. 31.

Yepes, who was most recently the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Conard High School, is now the school's security guard and continues as a coach of the girls soccer team.

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police Chief Tracey Gove praised Yepes for his years of dedicated service, during which he received Merit Awards, Unit Citations, a Departmental Citation, and a Kiwanis Stars for Kids Award. Off. Yepes was also the American Legion’s Police Officer of the Year in 2002.

Yepes has had many roles with the West Hartford police, serving in patrol, CIT, traffic, bike squad, training division, as a Field Training Officer, a member of SWAT, and a member of the Honor Guard.

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Yepes, with emotion clearly showing in his voice, referred to the department as "a family."

"It's a great town to work for and I am very, very happy to have been here, and even happier to say that I have been working at Conard," said Yepes, who is himself a Conard alum.

At the ceremony Gove also announced the promotion of Detective Anthony Anderle to sergeant effective Nov. 30. Anderle, a former Marine who is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, has been a member of the West Hartford police since Oct. 2009.

Anderle has worked in patrol, CIT, bike squad, and traffic. He was promoted to detective in 2010, working in youth services as well as the detective division.

Gove praised Anderle's work in several cases, including a traffic stop that led to the uncovering a gun operation and another traffic stop which led to the discovery of a drug factory. He was also praised for safely evacuating residents of a Beacon St. apartment building during a fire.

Gove said that Anderle has received many commendations, including Departmental Citations, Merit Awards, Unit Citations, MADD Award, and a Lifesaving Award. Anderle was the American Legion’s Police Officer of the Year in 2009.

Sgt. Anderle will be assigned to the patrol division.

Gove also announced the promotion of Off. Scott Segar to detective, assigned to the detective division, effective Nov. 30.

Segar, a former combat engineer, is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University and joined the West Hartford police in January 2006. He was previously a police officer in New Britain.

Gove praised Segar's "team efforts" in many key arrests. He has worked in patrol, CIT and traffic, is a field training officer and an assistant team leader for SWAT.

Gove highlighted Segar's many letters of commendation, citizen letters, and awards, including numerous Unit Citation Awards.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.