4 new East Haven officers sworn in

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- The East Haven Police Department has four new police officers. All of them were sworn in Monday, and one of them is making history.

On Monday, East Haven welcomed three new police recruits and one new officer who transferred in from the New Haven Police Department.

For a department that's been rocked by allegations of racial profiling, perhaps the biggest deal about the announcement is the fact that two of the four new officers are Hispanic.

"The difference about this is two of the people we hired are Hispanic," said Interim Police Chief Brent Larrabee, "one is a Hispanic female and the other is a Hispanic male."

"The neighborhoods are getting more diverse and we need it," said Charlene Apuzzo, of East Haven, "it's just common sense."

"I'm happy, I'm so happy," one person said.

Up until now there has only been one person on the police force who speaks Spanish; that number has now grown to three. And the department's interim police chief sees that number continuing to go up.

"I think it will help, but it's got to be more than that," said Chief Larrabee. "If you've got 53 police officers and two are Hispanic you still have 51 who aren't."

"I guess it's good for the town, especially with all the trouble they've been in lately," said Chris, of East Haven. "I think it's maybe going to do good for us."

The East Haven PD is diversifying its force in another way. It hired its first Hispanic woman to work as a patrol officer.

"She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, a graduate of the University of PV with a degree in law enforcement, and this has been her lifelong dream and we're very fortunate to have her," said Chief Larrabee.

"We have made quite a transformation," said Mayor Joe Maturo, "we are on our way to be one of the best police departments in the state of CT."

The new recruits will be in training for the next 11 months, during which time the department expects to hire five more patrol officers.