When you send a letter to the Darien Police Department to praise one of their officers, not only do top police officials read it, but it gets passed on to the Police Commission and Police Chief Duane Lovello points it out during the commission meeting.
That’s what’s happened at recent Darien Police Commission meetings, and Lovello singled out new Police Officer Louis Moura, who’s been the subject of multiple letters praising him since he joined the department in July.
Luis Moura
Police Officer Luis Maura takes his oath of office from Police Chief Duane Lovello last July at Darien Police Headquarters. Moura previously was a Bridgeport police officer.
“I was very grateful and most impressed with the way he handled my case,” a town resident wrote in a letter dated Nov. 9. “He has been professional, thorough and also gentle and kind at a moment when I have been most upset,” the woman wrote (full text of each letter is below).
Lovello told the Police Commission last week that he’s been hearing good things about Moura from people outside the department.
“I’ve got to tell you, I’m getting a lot of letters about Officer Lou Moura,” Lovello said. “He is just a real people person. I just got another one a few days ago. He stopped to assist a woman in a disabled motor vehicle, and she took the time to write a letter.”
In addition to Moura, those “mentioned in dispatches” at the letters shown in the two most recent commission meetings: Lt. John Lawlor, Sgt. Alison Hudyma, Officers Nicholas Aranzullo, Michael Dos Santos, Andrew Mastroianni, Kevin Taggart, Chip Stahl and Stuart Schwengerer.
Here’s the full text of the two letters from civilians and excerpts from two letters from police officials in nearby communities (we’re not giving out the names of the civilian letter writers):
From Civilians
About Officer Luis Moura
Nov. 9
Dear Chief Lovello,
Most of us are quick to complain when we are unhappy, but fail to show our appreciation and give thanks for a job well done.
I had the privilege of being helped by Officer Lou Moura, and I wanted to tell you what an oustanding representative he is of the great police department you head. I was very grateful and most impressed with the way he handled my case.
He has been professional, thorough and also gentle and kind, at a moment when I have been most upset.
In Darien we are very proud of our police department. Now that I have had the opportunity to be helped by one of your officers, I wanted to thank you for having officers like Lou Moura. He is the best representative of the work you do for us. I wanted you to know.
With very sincerest gratitude,
About Sgt. Alison Hudyma, Officers Michael Dos Santos, Andrew Mastroianni, Chip Stahl,
Nov. 13
Captain [Donald] Anderson,
I am writing to bring to your attention the thanks your department deserves.
Last week I reported an incident to Sgt. A. Hudyma. The care she took to listen and gather information was laudable, but what really stood out to me was the empathy she showed. As a nurse, this is a trait we endlessly strive for. It gives me great confidence to have a department that also understands this value.
Within the next couple hours the incident was fully resolved, thanks to the speed of Officers Dos Santos and Stahl. Their swift professionalism is to be commended.
I would again like to extend my thanks to all those involved in helping to make our police force the pride of Darien.
From Other Police Departments
Excerpts from a letter about Officer Nicholas Aranzullo
Oct. 14
Dear Chief Lovello:
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the outstanding assistance we received from Officer Nicholas Aranzullo and K-9 Zulu during the drug sweep locker search that occurred on Friday, Oct. 9.
I would like to acknowledge the professional manner in which Officer Aranzullo and K-9 Zulu worked together with the other officers. His positive attitude and enthusiastic work ethic were exemplary. […]
[Wilton Police] Chief Robert Crosby
Excerpts from a letter about Lt. John Lawlor and Officers Andrew Mastroianni, Kevin Taggart and Stuart Schwengerer
Nov. 8
Dear Chief Lovello,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the assistance we received from Lt. John Lawlor and Officers Andy Mastroianni, Kevin Taggart and Stuart Schwengerer during the Salman Rushdie event on Oct. 22 at Staples High School in Westport. […]
I would like to acknowledge the professional manner in which these officers carried themselves. They spent long hours on posts with little relief, all the while maintaining discipline and dedication to the mission at hand: the safety and well-being of those attending this event. […]
Lt. Ryan Paulsson, shift commander
Westport Police Department