Yesterday, the Wilton Police Department promoted Anna Tornello to the rank of Sergeant. Tornello has been with the Wilton Police since 2010. Notably, the promotion makes her the first female sergeant in the history of the department.
She was sworn in by town clerk Lori Kaback before a group that included Police Commission chair Donald Sauvigne, commissioners David Waters and Matthew Mason; first selectman Lynne Vanderslice, chief of police John P. Lynch, and captains Thomas Conlan and Robert Cipolla.
Tornello was born in Italy, and was a Municipal Police officer for seven years, and a member of the motorcycle unit emergency response team for six years, before moving to the United States in 2003. She worked for the State of CT Judicial Marshal Service before joining the Wilton Police Department, on Feb. 12, 2010.
As a cadet at the CT Police Academy, Tornello was awarded the prestigious Luciano Award, conferred for high academic achievement after earning the top score among her peers.
In 2011 Tornello received the “Meritorious Service Award” for tackling a bank fraud suspect. She has since received numerous letters of commendation, letters of recognition, and “thank you” notes from members of the public with whom she has interacted in the course of performing her duties. According to her superior officers, “Tornello shows a high level of commitment to her profession of choice and a strong belief in the principles of community policing.”
Among the awards she has received are the MADD award–which she was given four times–for her dedication to DUI enforcement, and two AAA Traffic Safety Hero awards. In 2016, Tornello completed extensive training to become one of only 37 certified Drug Recognition Experts in the state, an expertise that places special emphasis on detection of drivers intoxicated by drugs.
Tornello is a field training officer and a member of the Wilton Police Honor Guard. She is also an active member of the Fairfield County Crisis Negotiation Team, and serves as a “regional” hostage negotiator. She also recently graduated form the Fairfield County Detective School.
Tornello holds a Bachelor degree in Public Safety (with honors) from Charter Oak State College and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
She speaks three languages, and is also often involved in projects within the Wilton community as a result of her passion for singing: she makes yearly appearances as a guest singer at the International Day of Prayer, the Wilton Fire Department 9/11 ceremony, and charity concerts for the Wilton Interfaith Action Committee.
