East Hartford Police Name Officer of the Year for 2018
The East Hartford Police Department is proud to announce that Officer Theodore Branon has been named Officer of the Year for 2018.
Officer Branon began his EHPD career on August 14, 1995 in the Patrol Division, and throughout his career he has worked in the Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit, as a Task Force Officer for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), in the Traffic Division, as a part time Neighborhood Resource Officer, and since 2016 he’s served as a full time Community Service Officer.
During his EHPD career, Officer Branon has received several awards and accolades, including a Distinguished Service Citation for his work with the DEA taking down a drug cartel. He also received Recognition from the DEA for taking part in an operation that led to over eight hundred arrests and the seizure of over a million dollars in drug money. He received two letters of Commendation in 2010 for his actions during a bank robbery and an active burglary, and a Meritorious Service Citation in 2011 after seizing a large quantity of marijuana. He received another Meritorious Service Citation in 2014 for seizing drugs and a loaded firearm during a traffic stop.
In his current role, Officer Branon works as a full time Community Service Officer. In this capacity, Officer Branon has made a major impact on the relationship between the Police Department and the Community. Officer Branon has been involved in several community events including block watch meetings, as well as youth, elderly and school safety seminars, and been instrumental helping to coordinate Coffee with a Cop events, Youth Basketball programs, Holiday Stuff a Cruiser events and National Night Out. In 2017, Officer Branon received the Community Policing Award from the United States Attorney's Office for his efforts in building and nurturing law enforcement and community relationships.
“Officer Branon is both well-liked and respected amongst his peers,” said East Hartford Police Chief Scott Sansom. “He has proved to be an invaluable asset to the organization with his knowledge of drug investigations and with the relationships he has fostered with our community through the years. His tireless dedication to the public safety profession and to the men and women that he serves with are evident. He is certainly worthy of this recognition.”
Officer Branon will be honored at the 22nd Annual Salute to Connecticut’s Finest Awards Dinner occurring on the evening of Thursday, May 16, 2019 at the Aqua Turf Conference Center, Mulberry Street, Plantsville, Connecticut. The event is sponsored in part by the East Hartford Exchange Club, and recognizes outstanding Police Officers from the numerous Connecticut communities in which local Exchange Clubs are active.
Officer Branon will also be honored by the East Hartford Police Department at the department’s Awards Ceremony being held on Thursday, May 23, 2018 at 3:30 PM at East Hartford Police Department headquarters, 31 School Street, East Hartford. The event is open to the public. All are welcome to attend.