For Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 16, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Bedford, N.H. Police Department Swears In Three New Probationary Officers

BEDFORD, N.H. — Chief John J. Bryfonski is pleased to announce that the Bedford Police Department officially welcomed three new Probationary Police Officers during a swearing in ceremony held Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

Michael Heikkila, Jeffery Drew and Joseph Palmariello successfully completed the Department’s Recruitment and Background Investigation process, and their employment is official effective Oct. 13. 

“I am happy to welcome each of these candidates as Probationary Police Officers in the Bedford Police Department,” Chief Bryfonski said. “These officers represent the future of our Department and each possesses a wealth of background and experience that will help them best serve the Bedford community.”

Officer Heikkila comes to the department from the Temple/Greenville, N.H., Police Department, where he served first as a part-time and later a full-time certified New Hampshire Police Officer for more than three years. He is a graduate of the 172nd Session of the New Hampshire Police Academy and the 271st Session of the New Hampshire Police Academy for part-time officers. 

Heikkila earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from NHTI and is working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Plymouth State University. 

Officer Drew comes to the department from the Portland, Maine Police Department, where he had been employed as a full-time police officer since August 2018 after having successfully graduated from the 35th Session of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. 

He served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps from 2007 until he was honorably discharged in 2011. During his military service with the USMC he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

After leaving the Marine Corps, Officer Drew went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security from Daniel Webster College and received a faculty commendation for outstanding academic achievement. He went on to provide security at the New Boston Air Force Tracking Station prior to joining the Portland Police Department. 

Officer Palmariello comes to the department from the Plymouth State University Police Department, where he has served as a full-time certified law enforcement officer since 2015, after graduating from the 168th Session of the New Hampshire Police Academy in August 2015. 

Palmariello earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Plymouth State University in 2013, majoring in criminal justice with minors in psychology and pre-law. He served with the United States Army/U.S. Army Reserves in Medical Services since 2014 and served tours of duty in both Kuwait and Iraq. 

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