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Unfulfilled Retirees Back At Barracks
By Tracy Gordon Fox
Courant
Staff Writer, August
26, 2003
When Capt. Dan Stebbins retired last year after
29 years with the state police, he made a list of projects to do in his
free time, including yard work and home improvements.
"I started chipping away at the list," Stebbins said,
"putting ponds in my yard and landscaping. As I was getting done with
the list, I said, `OK, now what am I going to do?'"
Stebbins, a boyish-looking 51, scoffed at the idea of going fishing or
finding a desk job. Instead, he did what a few other retired troopers have
done over the years: He asked for his job back.
The state allows retired employees to reapply for their job within a year
without losing their benefits. Such requests usually are granted unless
there have been layoffs or the job has been eliminated. Sgt. J. Paul
Vance, a state police spokesman, said the policy has been in place for as
long as he can remember, but that only a small number of troopers have
taken advantage of it.
More often than not, troopers leave the job after 20 years with a decent
pension and never look back.
"When I retire, that's going to be it," said Trooper Mark
Wallack, the president of the state police union. Wallack plans to retire
in June after 21 years of service. "Do I think I'd miss it? No. There
are other things I want to do before I croak."
But Stebbins and four others who have returned to the state police since
1997 all cite the same reason: They found that nothing else they did could
replace the satisfaction they received from the job.
Stebbins is one of two high-ranking state policemen who returned after the
recent round of early retirements among state employees. Capt. Louis
Lacaprucia left for less than a week before he returned.
"When it comes to going back to work, this is a real tough act to
follow," Stebbins said from his new post as commander of Troop W at
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. He decided to return
despite the fact he had been demoted from major, an appointed position
within the department, to captain following the appointment of a new
commissioner.
When he retired, people often asked Stebbins why he didn't grow a beard
and long hair, two things not allowed by the state police.
"This is who I am," Stebbins said, referring to his short blond
hair and clean-shaven face. "Every day I wasn't here I missed it. I
missed the whole scenario."
So did Trooper Earl Rozman and Sgt. Michael Nockunas, who both returned
about a year after leaving the job.
Sgt. Jack Hardell was the first state policeman to retire and then return.
He came back in 1997, 15 months after he left. Although he was able to
return at the rank of sergeant, he lost his seniority and had to work the
midnight shift. Six years later, he said he doesn't regret the decision
and doesn't plan to retire for at least five years, when he turns 65.
"It was a way of life," Hardell said. "It's home to
me."
Nockunas retired 2½ years ago to take a job as an internal auditor for an
insurance company.
"I had doubts the day I was turning in my stuff," he said.
"It was a difficult decision." He came back to the state police
a year later.
"It boils down to two issues. When the big time comes, do you want to
go for the money or quality of life? Really, quality of life is
better," said Nockunas, who now works in the department's homeland
security division. "I missed the job."
Being a state trooper is a way of life, state policemen say. Troopers take
home their cruisers, carry their guns wherever they go and often stop to
help others even when off duty.
"It's an identity thing," Nockunas said, "and then one day,
you're sitting under a palm tree or in an insurance company and you've
lost your identity."
Rozman's decision to return was a good one for him, and for the
department, his colleagues say.
"Earl is invaluable now, when the department has so many younger
officers," said Sgt. Kathy Miller, his supervisor. "In the old
days, we had so many experienced troopers. Earl has their respect because
of the seniority difference. He wants to teach them."
Rozman, 51, now has almost 30 years on the job and no plans to retire
anytime soon.
"I think I'm enjoying the job more than I've ever enjoyed it,"
said Rozman, a field training officer. "It's a lot of fun interacting
with newer troopers. I feel tremendously appreciated by the staff
here."
For Stebbins, being back on the job had one unexpected benefit: He talks
almost daily about his work to his son, Nathan Stebbins, who is an East
Hartford police officer. They discuss their work and the father dispenses
advice.
"It's a newfound friendship we didn't have before," said Nathan
Stebbins, who works the midnight shift. "It's good to see him back in
uniform. Now that he's back, they will have to drag him out."
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© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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