Veteran Greenwich Police Officers Retire

Two veteran Greenwich Police officers—each with 27 years of service—with have retired from the department.

Detectives Robert Brown Jr. and Gary Hoffkins retired earlier this month.

Brown, a Greenwich native, earned several departmental commendations during his career. Among them, in 1996 while on his way to work, he helped rescue a citizen from a burning car. In 2006 he was named the Officer of the Year for his work during an armed confrontation in which his actions resulted in an arrest and no loss of life. In 2010 he would be recognized as the Officer Of the Month for his investigative abilities with the solving of an armed robbery of a local pharmacy.

Brown, who joined the department in August 1987, was promoted to detective in 2007.

Brown was born and raised in Greenwich and was an Eagle Scout (Troop 25). He attended Brunswick School and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1981. He attended Southern Connecticut State University concentrating in criminal justice studies before enlisting in the United States Army as a Military Policeman (MP). Brown served in Germany and at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In a statement, Police Chief James Heavey said, “Bob worked for me for many years on the road. A few things one could always say of Bob. He always had total control of the situation, he was relentless in the pursuit of justice, and he always demonstrated a dedication to duty."

Brown is planning to relocate to Arizona where he has a job as an investigator.

Hoffkins, also a Greenwich native and Greenwich High School graduate, joined the department first as a police dispatcher in 1982. He was hired as a patrol officer in in June 1986. He attended Norwalk Community College concentrating in criminal justice studies.

Hoffkins spent most of his career on the road assigned to the Patrol Division and the Detective Division. In 1990 he was promoted to Accident Investigator (Master Police Officer) and promoted again in 1999 to Detective. His success resulted in a new assignment where for the last two years he has been assigned to the position as a Cold Case Investigator.

He has received Chief Commendations for investigations and apprehensions for involving auto theft, burglary, carjacking, fraud, kidnapping, narcotics, prostitution and homicides. He and his fellow squad detectives were recognized by the Town of Greenwich First Selectman as the “Team of the Year” in 2010.

"Gary has been a huge asset to the department in so many investigations and situations, we are very fortunate that he will continue to share his institutional knowledge in retirement," Heavey said.

Hoffkins will continue to serve the Town of Greenwich as a volunteer Special Police Officer.