Sergeant Mark Chamberlain & K-9 Argo

Call Number:		272
Start of Watch:		1995
Biographical Info:		Sergeant Chamberlain began his law enforcement career in 1993 for the Town of Marlborough. In 1995 he came to Swanzey, and was promoted to Corporal in 1999, and later to Sergeant in 2001. He began work with his partner, Argo, in September of 1999.

Master Patrolman Robert Blodgett

Call Number:		274
Start of Watch:		March 1988
Biographical Info:		A native of Swanzey, New Hampshire, Sergeant Blodgett graduated in 1982 from Monadnock Regional High School. In 1984 he graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College with an Associates Degree, and then attended the 104 NH Police Academy. In April of 1986 Blodgett was hired with the Chesterfield Police Department. In June of 1990 he started work as a Correctional Officer at the Cheshire County Correctional Facility. During this same time he was working part-time with the Swanzey Police Department, where he had been working from 1988. In May, 1994 Blodgett became a full-time Swanzey Police Department, where he currently holds the rank of Sergeant. In addition to being a Field Training Officer, he is also a member of the Bicycle Patrol Unit.

Master Patrolman Mark LaBelle

Call Number:		275
Start of Watch:		October 1996
Biographical Info:		A graduate of Monadnock Regional High School, Officer LaBelle served in the United States Air Force from 1986-1995. During his time in the Air Force, he worked security, and served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. In 1996 Officer LaBelle joined the Swanzey Police Department as a part-time officer, and became full-time in May of 1998. His current responsibilities include Patrol work, as well as the Intox-operator. In addition to his duties with the SPD, Patrolman LaBelle works as a firefighter, and plays softball. He has a wife and two sons.

Patrolman Joel Sampson

Call Number:		278
Start of Watch:		2001
Biographical Info:		Patrolman Sampson began his law enforcement career in 1999, serving as a patrol officer in the Town of Washington, New Hampshire. He joined the Swanzey Police Department in February of 2001. In January of 2003 he was attached to a New Hampshire State Drug Task force.

Patrolman Dennis Abrams

Call Number:		279
Start of Watch:		November 2002
Biographical Info:		Officer Abrams started his law enforcement career in 1995 as a part-time officer for the town of Suillivan, where he worked for seven years. He started his law enforcement career later in life, and was excited to be allowed the oppurtunity to go through the testing process, and even more excited when given the oppurtunity to serve the community of Swanzey. Married for twenty years, Officer Abrams has four daughters, as well as a a four-year-old grandson and a grandaughter of one year. Hobbies include long rides with his wife on the Harley, and watching his grandchildren grow.

Patrolman Christopher L. Simonds

Call Number:		2710
Start of Watch:		March 2004
Biographical Info:		Officer Simonds graduated from Monadnock Regional High School in 1999. From there he went to New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, where he graduated with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2001 he began working for the Town of Marlborough, New Hampshire, Police Department. In 2002, Officer Simonds graduated from the 128th New Hampshire Police Academy. Officer Simonds enjoys playing and watching baseball and also enjoys riding his motorcycle. He is currently looking forward to a long career with the Swanzey Police Department.

Patrolman Cory Tommila

Photo Not Yet Available

Investigations

Detective Paul Bertolami

Call Number:		2720
Start of Watch:		April 2000
Biographical Info:		Detective Bertolami graduated from Bishop Brady High School, in Concord, New Hampshire. He began his law enforcement career in 1983 with the New Hampshire State Police, where he worked until 1993. During much of this same period he also worked as a part-time officer with the Marlborough Police Department, and retired from that agency in 2000. He joined the Swanzey Police Department in 2000 as a detective, and is responsible for investigating major crimes, as well as providing for the photographic needs of the department. In addition, he has recently retired after serving for 29 years with the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. An avid outdoors man, Detective Bertolomi enjoys hunting, fishing, and skiing, and enjoys opportunities to travel. Photography is also a hobby he indulges in.

Civilian Investigator Robert Perrot

Call Number:		2721
Start of Watch:		May 20, 2002
Biographical Info:		Perrot is a graduate of Aviation High School in NYC, and later attended college. From 1966-1970 he served in the US Navy with a fighter squadron, working as a jet mechanic on the F-4 Phantom. He spent most of his time on the flight deck of a carrier. A 24 year veteran of the Maryland State police, he spent 20 of those years as a criminal detective. After moving to Harrisville, New Hampshire, Perrot was hired as a dispatcher, and soon became a civilian investigator and crime scene technician. He is responsible for crime scene processing, conducting interviews, and maintaining the property room. Perrot enjoys riding his snowmobile and four-wheeler, as well as working around his home. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he is also taking the Law Package at the NH Police Academy.

Office Manager Martha A. Waters

Call Number		230
Start of Watch:		1987
Biographical Info:		Martha A. Waters came to New Hampshire from Wilmington, Vermont in 1966 and to Swanzey in 1969. She has been married for 40 years and has three grown children. Before coming to Swanzey, Waters worked for an Attorney, a Realtor and the Holstein-Friesian in Brattleboro, VT. However, on arriving in Swanzey it was decided as a family that she would stay home with the children. However, she didn’t remain idle. After the children were in school she worked part-time answering phones for businesses in town and at the high school in the kitchen. Her husband, Larry, joined the Swanzey Center Fire Co. and Swanzey Police Department and Waters became involved in some manner with both agencies, a great experience. She worked with other firefighter’s wives on social functions and food details when there were lengthy fires. When her husband was a police officer she assisted him with work that was permissible to bring home. She would often joke with him that the police department should hire a good secretary. That day came in 1987 when the current part-time chief called and said, “Martha, do you want to come to work for me?” Her answer was quick: “Yes! When do you want me to start?” Waters has not been sorry even one day since she took the job. Some days are more trying than others, but she loves it. When the department became a full time department, she was hired full-time also. Waters loves working in this field and in this town, having had the opportunity to meet so many people from literally all over the world and all walks of life. People are so interesting, she believes, as they each have a story to tell. The reason that there have been people here from all over our country and other countries is because they come to see our covered bridges. People have also stopped in from England because they live in a place that has the same name. If she didn’t work with the department, she would hope for a Swanzey Chamber of Commerce because that would be the next best thing to bring her into contact with so many people. Over the last few years she has had the opportunity to watch a fledgling agency turn into one of the best agencies in Cheshire County. The officers are well trained and eager to carry on the tradition of becoming a partner with the community.