ANSONIA – The Ansonia Police Commission voted Tuesday (June 16) to accept the hire of two new police officers.
The two new officers, Joshua Segarra and Laszlo Benedek, will each receive starting salaries of $84,302.40.
Benedek, 23, is from Seymour. He holds a degree in criminal justice, with a concentration in police science. He said he’s been training his whole life to become a police officer.
Ansonia Police Chief Wayne Williams said Benedek has completed the testing required to join the department.
“His employer, references and neighbors speak very highly of him. He is described as a very mature, hard-working and a family-oriented person,” Williams said in the meeting.
Benedek has worked in customer service at an Edge Fitness Club since 2021.
Segarra, 22, was born in Bridgeport and later moved to Stratford. After high school, he worked in security before taking a sales position at Colonial Toyota in Milford.
Segarra is also fluent in Spanish, according to Williams.
“He’s done very well in our background, comes highly recommended, and I support his appointment,” Williams said.
The new officers bring the department closer to its hiring goals. There are now two funded positions that have not yet been filled, according to Ansonia Police Lt. Alex Barreira.
The department is “also working with the city for additional positions as funding becomes available,” Barreira wrote in an email.