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.
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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Head Police Advisor
Lieutenant Gregory Gunter
Lieutenant Gunter has been a Fairfield Police Office since 1992. Lieutenant Gunter was a Fairfield Police Explorer prior to becoming a police officer, and is currently the head advisor for the program.
Lead Police Advisor
Sergeant Richard Peck
Sergeant Peck has been Fairfield Police Officer since 2014. Sergeant Peck was a Connecticut State Police Troop B Explorer prior to becoming a police officer. As a police officer, Sergeant Peck served as a Field Training Officer, and earned the department's Officer of the Quarter Citation in 2020. Additionally, he is the department's Use of Force Instructor, a certified NRA Pistol Instructor, and is the head coordinator for the Fairfield Police Citizen's Police Academy. As lead advisor for the Cadets, Sergeant Peck handles the day to day operations of the post and as teaches many of the courses for the Cadet Program. Sergeant Peck is also the Assistant Director of the Cadet Police Academy Career Development Program.
Associate Police Advisor
Officer Jenna Racz
Officer Racz was a Trumbull Police Cadet/Explorer from 2009 to 2015, ending her tenure serving as Captain of the program. As a Police Cadet, Officer Racz earned the Basic Program Director's Award in 2009, and the Cadet Academy Director's Award in 2011. Officer Racz has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 2018. As a police officer, she has earned a Unit Citation and Officer of the Quarter Citation. Officer Racz assists Sergeant Peck in running the program and instructs courses. Officer Racz is a drill instructor for Career Development at the Cadet Police Academy.
Police Advisor
k-9 Officer Kevin Wells
Officer Wells has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 1999, and was a Fairfield Police Explorer prior to becoming a police officer. Officer Wells is currently assigned to the patrol division, where he is a 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 Cassandra Drogan
Officer Drogan transferred to the Fairfield Police Department in 2021 from the Waterbury Police Department, where she served as a police officer for 4 years. Officer Drogan was assigned to the Vice Unit for 3 years, where she worked on narcotics investigations.
Lieutenant Gregory Gunter
Lieutenant Gunter has been a Fairfield Police Office since 1992. Lieutenant Gunter was a Fairfield Police Explorer prior to becoming a police officer, and is currently the head advisor for the program.
Lead Police Advisor
Sergeant Richard Peck
Sergeant Peck has been Fairfield Police Officer since 2014. Sergeant Peck was a Connecticut State Police Troop B Explorer prior to becoming a police officer. As a police officer, Sergeant Peck served as a Field Training Officer, and earned the department's Officer of the Quarter Citation in 2020. Additionally, he is the department's Use of Force Instructor, a certified NRA Pistol Instructor, and is the head coordinator for the Fairfield Police Citizen's Police Academy. As lead advisor for the Cadets, Sergeant Peck handles the day to day operations of the post and as teaches many of the courses for the Cadet Program. Sergeant Peck is also the Assistant Director of the Cadet Police Academy Career Development Program.
Associate Police Advisor
Officer Jenna Racz
Officer Racz was a Trumbull Police Cadet/Explorer from 2009 to 2015, ending her tenure serving as Captain of the program. As a Police Cadet, Officer Racz earned the Basic Program Director's Award in 2009, and the Cadet Academy Director's Award in 2011. Officer Racz has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 2018. As a police officer, she has earned a Unit Citation and Officer of the Quarter Citation. Officer Racz assists Sergeant Peck in running the program and instructs courses. Officer Racz is a drill instructor for Career Development at the Cadet Police Academy.
Police Advisor
k-9 Officer Kevin Wells
Officer Wells has been a Fairfield Police Officer since 1999, and was a Fairfield Police Explorer prior to becoming a police officer. Officer Wells is currently assigned to the patrol division, where he is a 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 Cassandra Drogan
Officer Drogan transferred to the Fairfield Police Department in 2021 from the Waterbury Police Department, where she served as a police officer for 4 years. Officer Drogan was assigned to the Vice Unit for 3 years, where she worked on narcotics investigations.
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.
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.
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.
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.