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Wilton Police Department Promotes Woman To Detective In Historic First

WILTON, Conn. -- Already a veteran police officer, Sgt. Lester Zimnoch said he initially discouraged his younger sister from joining the force, too.

Eva Zimnoch accepts congratulations on being named detective at a ceremony in Wilton on Thursday. Standing with her is her brother Sgt. Lester Zimnoch of the Meriden Police Department. Clapping at left is Interim Police Chief Robert Crosby.

Eva Zimnoch accepts congratulations on being named detective at a ceremony in Wilton on Thursday. Standing with her is her brother Sgt. Lester Zimnoch of the Meriden Police Department. Clapping at left is Interim Police Chief Robert Crosby.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

"The things we see can affect your psyche for the rest of your life," he said. "I wanted to make sure this was the path she wanted to go down."

Maybe not for the first time, Eva Zimnoch ignored her older brother's advice. It paid off as she made history by becoming the first female officer to be promoted from a patrol officer in the Wilton Police Department to detective. She was sworn in to her new position Thursday morning in front of a room crowded with family, friends and fellow Wilton Police Department officers.

In comments after the swearing in, Zimnoch, 36, said she had her mind set on becoming a detective from an early age.

"I always wanted to be a detective. It was just a lifelong dream from when I was a little girl," she said.

The Monroe native joined the Wilton Police Department in 2005.

The department currently has 43 officers, two below full strength, Interim Police Chief Robert Crosby said. Of those five are women, Crosby said.

Zimnoch said her promotion is just part of the wide open opportunities for women today. And she said that hard work can pay off.

"It just goes to show you that if you have your mind set on something, you can certainly accomplish it," she said. "I'm very happy. I'm overwhelmed. I can't wait to start my position."

Her parents, Walter and Rose, were in attendance at the swearing in Thursday along with her brother.

Crosby praised Zimnoch for her work on the department, including saving a person's life in 2008 and being named the department's 2014 officer of the year. 

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