WHPD Captain Retires With Strong Message to Officers

John Casey served as a captain for the final six years of his 30-year career. He said he was grateful for his chance to influence the overall operations of the department. But he also said there were times he wanted to be somewhere else.

Any place except behind a desk.

“I loved going to the calls, and I loved talking to the people of West Hartford,” Casey said. “But you are sitting in an office, listening to the radio and guys are going to calls that you want to go to. You think, if I was out there, I could get that guy.”

On Friday, a group of about 100 that included colleagues, town officials, family and friends filled the training room at police headquarters to honor Casey and outgoing assistant Chief Carl Rosensweig and Det. James McKeown.

Chief James Strillacci also .

Casey said in an informal speech that respect, humility and restraint are the measures of a good cop. He urged younger officers to “Plan for the future, dream for the future but live for today.”

“Be patient and kind,” Casey said. “You put handcuffs in your pouch, you put a gun on your hip, and you walk out there every day into the community. These people have given you the power to take away our greatest right in the United States, freedom. Go out and do your job with integrity and honor.”

Casey, 53, whose previous posts included supervisor of the SWAT team and head of the community interaction team, said afterward that physical issues were a part of his decision to retire. He had been involved in an on-duty car accident.

“Very few people love being a police officer like I love being a police officer,” Casey said. “It’s my heart and soul. It’s really hard to say goodbye. It’s tough. It’s been a huge part of my life and it’s tough to walk out the door.”

Strillacci said Casey also worked through family tragedies.

“He still got up and came to work and did his duty despite having his heart torn out at home,” Strillacci said.

Casey was also former head of the community relations division.

“I enjoyed solving crimes, putting together puzzles when I was a detective,” Casey said. “When you get bumped up to the administrative parts of the department – although you have an opportunity to have a huge impact on the operations of the police department – you are removed from all the reasons you wanted to be a police officer to begin with.”

Rosensweig is the . McKeown is moving to the Plymouth Police Department.

Strillacci promoted Tracy Gove from lieutenant and head of the special investigations division to captain of the patrol.

“He’s not so much ambitious as he has intellectual curiosity,” Strillacci said. “He likes his jobs and the things that are related to it – even the things that are unrelated to it. He wants to learn, and as learns he wants to shares with others. He’s going to go places.”

Roger Brancoforte was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant; Brett Balisciano was made sergeant; and Brian Hill moved up to detective.