Darien Police Department announcement:
Darien Police Field Training Officer Greg Benedetto (right) is pictured with Probationary Officer Amanda Hinkley (left) as they prepare for patrol. 
Officer Hinkley recently began her required ten weeks of field training in Darien after having successfully graduated from a twenty-three week course of instruction in residence at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden.
A native of Port Jervis, N.Y., Off. Hinkley holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York and a master’s degree in education from SUNY College in Cortland.
Prior to joining the Darien Police Department, Officer Hinkley had been employed for five years as a physical education teacher at Poughkeepsie High School, where she also coached the girl’s JV softball and basketball teams. Amanda’s brother is currently employed as a police officer in White Plains, N.Y.
Once successfully completing her 10 weeks of field training, Off. Hinkley will be assigned to a uniformed patrol squad.