The Town of Somers has hired its first ever female police officer.
Officer Shannon Belcher was sworn in on Monday. She has an extensive 25-year career with the Connecticut State Police where she served in Tolland, Danielson and Meriden. She also spent several years working with the State Police Major Crimes and became a polygraph examiner.
“It was an amazing career, amazing. I learned quite a bit, made a lot of amazing friends, met a lot of people. It’s been very challenging, yet rewarding,” Belcher said.
Over the last 70 years the town of Somers has had resident state troopers police the area. About three years ago, it started transitioning from those state troopers to its own police force. Officer Belcher is the first female to ever police the town over those last 70 years.
“For the town it’s a win-win because Shannon is really not coming to us as a rookie. She’s an experienced former state police trooper supervisor. So she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position,” said Lieutenant Jose Claudio, Somers Police Department.
Belcher just retired as a state police trooper on July 1. She said she jumped at the chance to work in Somers, since she started her career in the area, when Troop C was headquartered in nearby Stafford Springs.
“I’m happy to be the first female police officer in the town of Somers. I look forward to it and I hope to bring on additional women,” Belcher said.
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Somers has two remaining resident state troopers, three full-time police officers, an administrator and several part-time officers.
