10 New Cop Recruits Sworn In

by Paul Bass

Emily Alers saw the difference her older sister Tanya was making as a cop, so she determined to become one too.

Tanya, a Manhattan night-shift patrol officer with four years on the job, came up to New Haven Thursday to watch the mayor administer an oath of service to Emily and nine other police recruits. The class begins six months of training at the academy this coming Monday.

The ten recruits sat in seats usually occupied by New Haven alders in City Hall for the ceremony.

“This is the greatest job in the world,” Chief David Zannelli told them.

Before administering the oath, Mayor Justin Elicker reminded the class that they will represent the city both on and off duty. “In the most respectful way I can say, don’t do anything stupid.”

Alers, 24, grew up in Hamden. She most recently worked as a medical assistant. She decided to become a cop after hearing her sister’s stories about consoling a distraught mother and generally deescalating stressful situations, “being there to make someone’s worst day a better day.”

“I wanted to have a story of my own,” Alers said as she and other recruits posed for photos following the swearing-in.

She had to work hard to get there: She didn’t make it through the vetting process the first time she tried, in 2025, thwarted by the mile-and-a-half run. She said she altered her diet, upped her training, “sacrificed” some family gatherings and social outings to give it her best. “I knew this was something I had to do.” And she did it.

James Mazzadra, another of the recruits, said he decided to pursue a police career after working for five years on bringing a skate park to Shelton. Mazzadra, who’s 32, said he liked “working with community,” so police work seemed like a good next career step. He said he knew New Haven has a reputation for community policing. So he put his application in and made the cut.

The full list of the 10 recruits sworn in on Thursday: Emily Alers, Anthony Brissett, James Mazzadra, Prabhjot Singh, Carlos Mendes, Brian Lawlor, Andy Sanchez, Dillon Mott, Ryan Meagher, Adriel Atad.

The 10 recruits in the Board of Alders chambers, flanked by Asst. Chief Bertram Ettienne and Chief David Zannelli.

He liked New Haven’s community policing rep: Sworn-in recruit James Mazzadra (at right) at City Hall yesterday with his dad Ricky, who works for New Haven’s Livable City Initiative.