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Before a large group of family and friends, James H. Baker, II, Evan Kaesmann, and Matthew J. Riendeau promised to uphold the U. S. Constitution, and the laws of the State of Connecticut and the Town of Fairfield.
Chief Dave Peck welcomed the newest police officers and told them, "You're now part of our family...We're going to go through good times together. We're going to go through bad times together, but we will always be there for you."
The very next day, all three started an approximately four month course of study along with other police recruits from around the state, at Post Police Academy in Milford.
James H. Baker, III is a third generation police officer. His father, James Baker, is a retired detective of the Westport police department and his grandfather, Joseph McAleenan, was police chief of the Weston Police Department.
Born in Norwalk, to Sheila as well as to Jim, the 24-year-old Baker grew up in Fairfield, graduating from Fairfield High School in 2002. He earned a B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington four years later.
First Selectman Ken Flatto mentioned that he saw some of Baker's former high school coaches in the crowd gathered for the ceremony.
Evan Kaesman was raised by parents Tom and Sue in Trumbull and graduated from Trumbull High School in 2006. The 21-year-old was a Dean's List student at Central Connecticut State University, where he majored in Political Science, and minored in Criminal Justice.
Matthew J. Riendeau, son of Rene and Gloria Riendeau, was born in New Milford and graduated from Shepaug Valley High School in 2000. Now 27, Matthew joined the United States Marine Corps in April of 2005 and specialized as an infantry machine-gunner. He completed two combat tours in Iraq, receiving the Combat Action Ribbon, Certificate of Commendation, Good Conduct Medal and Navy Unit Commendation.
He received his Honorable Discharge this past April.
