Veteran Greenwich Police Capt. Mark Marino was named deputy police chief Thursday by the Board of Selectmen.
The unanimous vote came just short of two weeks after Marino and two other captains were interviewed by the selectmen, Police Chief James Heavey and Human Resources Director Maureen Kast on Dec. 2.
Marino, who has been commander of the detective division since 2010, will officially assume the deputy chief position on Jan. 1, according to Heavey. He will be sworn in late January in a ceremony that also will include the promotions a captain, lieutenant and sergeant, Heavey said.
Marino, 53, was hired by the department in 1983. He was promoted to detective in 1993; sergeant in 1995 and lieutenant in 2004. As deputy chief, Marino will be paid $134,292 - or about 10 percent more than he is earning as a captain, Heavey said.
Before voting on the appointment, First Selectman Peter Tesei said to Heavey, "I am confident in your recommendation. He exhibits dedication and a good temperment — he will be a great complement to what you want do with the department."
Selectman Dave Theis added, "Mark is a man of great character and humility and has taken the detective division to a great, great level of respect." Selectman Drew Marzullo said that in his work with the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, he has witnessed Marino being "compassionate" while working with crime victims and their families.
Marino told the selectmen, "I pledge myself again to continue to be dedicated myself to the police chief, the town of Greenwich and provide the best law enforcement services that we can."
Marino's appointment rounds out the total revamp of the police departments top management. to Chief David Ridberg who retired Oct. 31. in June, edging out Marino, and Captains Mark Kordick and Timothy Berry. Berry and Kordick also were candidates for the deputy position this time.
In addition to his being detective division commander, Marino also is in charge of the department's Special Response Unit. Previously, he has worked as an accident investigator, field training officer, attended several training schools ranging from drug enforcement, arson and homicide investigation, to SWAT command, hostage rescue and internal affairs investigations. He was named police officer of the year in 2003.
This article has been updated to include additional information from the selectmen's meeting and background on Marino.
