On Friday Greenwich Police Dept announced they bid farewell to two police officers who retired in December after a combined 25 years of service – Officers Caroline Clark and Joe Berry.
Officer Caroline Clark joined the Department in 2009, fulfilling a life-long dream of a career in law enforcement. She quickly earned a reputation for being cool under pressure. Whether working undercover in Narcotics, investigating an animal cruelty case, or helping a stranded motorist, Officer Clark was the quintessential professional.
During her 15-year tenure, Officer Clark received numerous accolades, including Officer of the Month, a Divisional Letter of Recognition, a Certificate of Appreciation and other commendations. However, her greatest satisfaction came from helping people in the community. One Greenwich resident summed up her impact this way: “On a scale of 1-10, Officer Clark is a 100+.”
When Officer Joel Berry joined the Department in 2013, he brought along broad experience in both law enforcement and emergency medical services. He had reached the rank of sergeant with the Bridgeport Police Department, where he served for more than 10 years, and had spent three years an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS). Officer Berry leveraged this experience to excel in Patrol and as a Traffic Enforcement Officer. Around town, he was a familiar sight as a motorcycle cop.
By retirement, Officer Berry had earned numerous departmental commendations and letters of appreciation from other police departments, organizations within the community and local residents for work ranging from investigations of motor vehicle collisions and thefts to motorcycle escorts and COVID-19 response efforts.
“Somehow, just saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem like enough,” wrote one Greenwich resident. “You saved my life … and diligently you got me the help I needed.”
The Greenwich Police Department will be forever grateful for the service Officers Clark and Berry performed while on duty.