(MIDDLETOWN, CT – December 12, 2024) – The Connecticut State Police promoted five Troopers during a ceremony today at State Police Headquarters. Colonel Daniel Loughman, Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police, formally promoted the Troopers.
The following Troopers were promoted:
Lieutenant Colonel Chad Gomez Lieutenant Colonel Gomez was promoted from Major and has been assigned to command the Bureau of Professional Standards. He most recently served as Executive Officer in the Office of Field Operations. A graduate of the 119th State Police Training Troop, he has been a Trooper for 17 years. Lt. Col. Gomez previously served as Commanding Officer of the Central District and the Western District, as well as Commanding Officer of the Emergency Services Unit. In addition, Lt. Col. Gomez was a Detective in the Statewide Narcotics Unit, a Tactical Team Member with Emergency Services, a K-9 Handler and a Patrol Trooper at Troop L, Litchfield.
During the past 17 years, Lt. Col. Gomez has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the agency’s Medal for Bravery and Medal for Outstanding Service. He has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for proactively identifying and arresting drunk drivers and earned the TFC Allan J. Tuskowski Award for Excellence in Training and the Samuel J. Luciano Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement from State Police.
Lt. Col. Gomez is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom having served as a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. He has been trained by the FBI as a Crisis Negotiator and graduated the FBI Executive Management Hazardous Device School.
Sergeant Christopher Valente Sergeant Valente was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been assigned to Troop F- Westbrook after most recently serving as Middlefield Resident Trooper. Sgt. Valente graduated the State Police Training Academy as a member of the 124th Training Troop in 2014. He previously served at Troop F-Westbrook and Troop H-Hartford. He is an active member of the Tactical Team and the Dive/Marine Unit. He completed Navy Dive School in 2023. He has earned the agency’s Medal for Meritorious Service and Unit Citation. Sgt. Valente is a First Lieutenant in the Army National Guard as an Infantry Officer and completed Ranger School earlier this year. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Central CT State University.
Sergeant Kristina Vivino Sergeant Vivino was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been assigned to Troop C- Tolland. Sgt. Vivino is a member of the 121st Training Troop and has been a Trooper for more than 14 years, most recently serving as the Columbia Resident Trooper. Previously, she served at Troop C-Tolland, Troop D-Danielson and Troop K-Colchester. She also served in the Backgrounds Unit, Casino Unit, and as the East Haddam Resident Trooper.
Sergeant Alexander Milne Sergeant Milne was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been assigned to Troop L-Litchfield. Sgt. Milne is a graduate of the State Police 125th Training Troop and has been on patrol for more than nine years at Troop A- Southbury, Troop B-North Canaan and Troop L-Litchfield. He has earned the State Police Medal for Lifesaving. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut and was a Southington Police Officer for three years prior to becoming a Trooper.
Sergeant Gordon Leslie Sergeant Leslie was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been assigned to Troop E- Montville. Sgt. Leslie was most recently a Patrol Instructor at the State Police Training Academy. He currently serves as a leader in the Tactical Unit. In more than 11 years as a Trooper, Sgt. Leslie was a Patrol Trooper at Troop D-Danielson and Troop K-Colchester. He has earned the agency’s Medal for Bravery, the Medal for Meritorious Service and two Unit Citation awards, as well as the MSGT Slattery Shooting Award. Sgt. Leslie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Albertus Magnus College. Prior to becoming a State Trooper, he served in the U.S. Army for eight years and as an East Hartford Police Officer for more than three years.