Who are the Post Advisors?

The Advisors to the Police Cadet Program are dedicated members of the Fairfield Police Department, as well as former Fairfield Police Explorers/Cadets who serve in other departments. Below you may notice some advisors have two photos. The image on the right is their current photograph. The image on the left is from their days as a Police Cadet!

The role of the Advisors is to instruct Police Cadets on different law enforcement topics. Additionally, they provide the tools and skills to the Ranking Cadets, who are responsible for coordinating both meetings and events.

Advisors receive Youth Protection Training from the North East Regional Law Enforcement Education Association.

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Program Coordinator
Captain Edward Weihe
Captain Weihe is the Field Services Bureau Commander for the Fairfield Police Department. As a former educator himself, Captain Weihe has taken a great interest in the development of the community's youth cadet members.
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Lead Advisor
Sergeant Richard Peck
Sergeant Peck was a CT State Police Cadet/Explorer before becoming a Fairfield Police Officer. Since then, he has served as a Field Training Officer, ran the Fairfield Citizens Police Academy, and earned the Unit Citation, Officer of The Quarter Citation, and Distinguished Service Award. In 2021 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As the Lead Advisor for the program, Sergeant Peck oversees the administrative duties of the Fairfield Cadet Program and is in charge of the day to day operations.

In addition to his work with the Fairfield Police Department, Sergeant Peck is an active member with NERLEEA. He serves on the executive board, is the Cadet Academy Assistant Director of the Mock Police Department, and is the Director for both the Cadet Skills Day and Cadet SWAT Challenge Competition.
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Assistant Lead Advisor
Officer Jenna Wellington
Officer Wellington was a Trumbull Police Cadet/Explorer from 2009 to 2015, ending her tenure serving as Cadet Captain of the program. She has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 2018 and since then has served as a Field Training Officer, on the Crisis Intervention Team, earned a Unit Citation and Officer of the Quarter Citation.

As a Assistant Lead Advisor, Officer Wellington provides course instruction to the cadets during Monday's meetings, coordinates the promotional process for the ranking cadets, and provides weekly instructions to the post captain.
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Police Advisor
k-9 Officer Kevin Wells
Previously a Fairfield Police Explorer, Officer Wells has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 1999. He is currently assigned to the traffic division, where he is an Accident Re-Constructionist, Field Training Officer, Bike Officer, and K9 Officer. His partner, K9 Jagger is a narcotics/tracking trained police K-9, who assists Officer Wells in teaching the Cadets.
Police Advisor
Detective Belinda Papageorge
Detective Papageorge has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 1994, and has since risen through the ranks to become a Fairfield Police Detective. Detective Papageorge was a Fairfield Police Explorer prior to becoming a police officer. Detective Papageorge is the coordinator for Shred Day, one of the only fundraisers for the Cadet Program.
Police Advisor
Officer Anthony Falbo
Officer Fablo joined the Fairfield Police Department in 2021 and has exemplified himself as a pro-active police officer. Officer Falbo assists in running meetings and events.
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Advisor
Corpsman Grady Gunter
Corpsman Gunter was a Fairfield Police Explorer from 2010 to 2018, ending his tenure serving as Chief of the program. Corpsman Gunter then joined the United States Navy in 2018, and became a Corpsman. Notably, Corpsman Gunter served in his capacity during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and assisted in his role as a medical professional. Corpsman Gunter teaches courses for the Fairfield Cadets, and supervises them during events.
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Trooper Advisor
Trooper Deaglan McDade
Trooper McDade was a Fairfield Police Explorer from from 2011-2018. As an Explorer, Trooper McDade was one of the first Fairfield Explorers to complete the extremely difficult Career Development Program and earned the highest achievement of that program, the Director's Award in 2017. In 2020, Trooper McDade became a ​Connecticut State Trooper and has volunteered in his free time to give back to the Fairfield Cadet Program. Trooper McDade assists in teaching classes, and is responsible for morale.

Youth Protection Trained Ride-Along Advisors

Police Advisor Officer Cassandra Drogan
Police Advisor Officer Brian Griffin
Police Advisor Officer Robert Knapp