Past Executive Board Members through April, 2010
Past Executive Board from right to left:Sgt-at-arms Ofc. Gail McDonnell Coventry PD
Treasurer Det. MaryJo Russell Hartford PD
Vice President Sgt. Elsie Diaz South Windsor PD
President Det. K.C. Rodriguez Hartford PD
Ofc. Peggy Clouser South Windsor PD
Ret. Capt. Lori Coppinger West Hartford PD
President , Karla Rodriguez (Sergeant)
Hartford Police Dept. 50 Jennings Road, Hartford, CT 06120-1611
Karla Rodriguez has been a member of CAWP since 1998 and a member of the Hartford Police Department since 1995. She was assigned to the Patrol Division within the department and was promoted to detective in 2001 and assigned to the Major Crimes Division. She has received several departmental, local and statewide awards for her distinguished service, including being honored by the Connecticut Association of Police with the 2001 Woman Officer of the Year Award. She is a member of the Hartford Police Awards committee and is a certified P.O.S.T.C instructor in nine subject areas who teaches for the Hartford Police Academy, the Connecticut Police Academy, Manchester Community College and other outside agencies. Karla is a certified group fitness and kickboxing instructor who teaches at Big Sky in Newington, Connecticut and has been featured in local and national publications for her fitness and work efforts. As part of her fitness efforts, she conducts fitness and motivation conferences and is working on an aerobic clothing line. She holds a B.S. in Business Management and Public Relations from Albertus Magnus College and has a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She is the founder of a small business. Karla Rodriguez was promoted to Sergeant from her position as a detective where she was assigned to the Intelligence Division within the department which conducts investigations on serious gang and firearm crimes within the City of Hartford. Karla is currently the supervisor of a citywide proactive unit within the police department called "Street Crimes. Karla has a seven-year old daughter who keeps her on her toes and promises to be a handful like her mother. Karla's goal is to contribute to the progress of humankind by continuing to touch the lives of everyone around her in a positive way.
Vice-President, Elsie Diaz (Detective Sgt.)
South Windsor Police Dept. 151 Sand Hill Road, South Windsor, CT. 06074-2026
Elsie Diaz has been a member of South Windsor Police Department since 1995. She has been a member of CAWP since 1996. She was assigned to Patrol until 2000, when she became South Windsor's first School Resource Officer. In 2004 she was promoted to Police Agent, and in 2006 she was promoted to Sergeant. She returned to Patrol and served as the midnight shift field supervisor until being assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit in 2007 where she supervises the Investigators, School Resource Officers and the Narcotics Officer. She has received numerous awards including being chosen as South Windsor's Officer of the Year in 1997. Elsie earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 2004. She enjoys riding her Harley Davidson soft tail Deluxe to local and long distance destinations. She and her husband are expecting their first child in early 2010.
Secretary, Peggy Sue Clouser (Officer)
South Windsor Police Dept. 151 Sand Hill Road, South Windsor, CT. 06074-2026
Treasurer , M. J. Russell (Detective)
Hartford Police Dept. 50 Jennings Road, Hartford, CT 06120-1611
Phone 860-757-4000
Sergeant-at-Arms , Gail McDonnell (Officer)
Coventry Police Dept. 1585 Main Street, Coventry, CT 06238-1749
Officer Gail McDonnell started her police career as a Policewoman at the West Hartford Police Department in 1979. She worked there in the Detective Division for 7 years until she resigned to raise her children.
At the age of 40 she entered the field of Law Enforcement again getting hired by the Coventry Police Department in 1996. Gail is presently with the Coventry Police as a patrol officer who still loves her work.
Chaplain, Lori Coppinger
Lori Coppinger is a retired Captain with the West Hartford Police Department where she served for over 24 years. Lori started her law enforcement career in East Windsor as a part-time officer and was then hired by Southern Connecticut State University before moving on to West Hartford. Before retiring Lori held a position of supervision in nearly all divisions of the department and was the Administrator of the department K-9 Units for 13 years. Lori is a graduate of CCSU and holds a B.A. in Sociology. In 1997 she graduated from Holy Apostle College with an M.A. in Theology. She attended the FBI National Academy in 2003, 212th session and is an Adjunct Instructor at Northwestern Community College where she teaches Police Administration and Organization, and Criminal Law. She has received numerous awards and letters of commendations in her law enforcement career and Lori was the CAWP Officer of the Year in 1997 and received the CAWP Leadership Award in 2007. Lori has over 30 years experience in the martial arts and holds a 5th degree black belt in the Korean style of Tang Soo Do. Since her retirement she has held the position of Interim Police Chief for the town of Canton and has been asked to assist in several Internal Affairs investigations in surrounding towns. She has also returned to teaching martial arts to the students at CCSU and sits on the board of directors at Holy Apostles College. Her husband is a Lieutenant with the West Hartford Police Department and they have three beautiful children.
