New Faces at Canton Police Department

Jon Saucier and Mike Roy are relatively new faces around the Canton Police Department, but their roots in emergency services run deep.

Saucier, the department’s newest officer, comes from a long line of police officers. His father, Glenn, and grandfather, Albert, served in the Plainville Police Department.

“I really got to see what it would be like,” Saucier said.

In fact, he never really thought about doing anything else as a career, especially once he reached the later years of high school.

“Once I started thinking about college, that solidified it,” he said.

Saucier attended Tunxis Community College for two years and went on to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice from Central Connecticut State University.

Before being hired in Canton last summer, Saucier had worked at the YMCA in Plainville. He started as a teenager and worked right up until he was hired as a police officer.

His father said Jon Saucier was a well-respected sports director there and is still well regarded in town.

“He had a good rapport with the kids,” Glenn Saucier said. “I think he’ll fit right in as a police officer.” 

Jon Saucier recently graduated from the Connecticut Police Academy and is  training with a few different field training officers at the police department.

The training officers respond with Saucier and ensure that he is handling each situation correctly. Because officers are certified emergency medical responders, the calls range from medical emergencies to accidents to shoplifting.

It’s the variety that attracts Saucier to patrol, and he loves to meet new people.

“I really enjoy the fact that it’s something new every day,” he said.

And speaking of new, he consciously decided not to apply for a job in Plainville.

“I thought I’d go out and make my own niche,” he said.

Glenn Saucier, who retired last month after 23 years as an officer, is just fine with that. Sadly, Albert Saucier died while Jon Saucier was in the academy, but did know his grandson had gotten the job.

“Me and his mother are very, extremely proud that he chose this profession,” Glenn Saucier said. “He’ll do very well - no doubt about that.”

Canton Police Chief Christopher Arciero said  Saucier did extremely well at the academy and that his background has taught him about dealing with situations and the stresses that can come on the job.

“I think it will give him that extra edge,” he said.

The other new face in the department is dispatcher Mike Roy.

Roy also has a background in emergency services. He is a volunteer firefighter in Avon who also studied fire and arson investigation with a minor in criminal justice at the University of New Haven.

“I’ve always been involved in fire, medical and police,” he said. “It kind of ties it all together.”

Roy said a big part of landing the Canton job was a matter of “right time, right place.”

It can be a hectic job. As the central dispatch service, those who work there handle medical, fire and police-related calls. Even after a call is relayed to the appropriate department, such as the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department, dispatchers still assist when needed, call other personnel and keep track of all timelines associated with an incident.

It takes computer skills as well as a calm demeanor and quick thinking.

“You have to multitask,” said Arciero, who added that dispatchers have to prioritize as well.

Roy is also training with department veterans. Like Saucier, he appreciates the variety.

“It’s always fresh, it’s always changing,” he said. “You’re helping people out when they’re calling in for emergencies or routine matters.”

He added, “I can see myself doing this for a while.”