New Haven resident and single mother Brenda Vera finds her motivation to push forward from her 10-year-old son. That determination eventually led her to a career in law enforcement.

In 2002, Brenda attended Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven and received her high school diploma from the New Haven adult education program. After that, she enrolled in the one-year paralegal certificate program at the Branford Hall Career Institute. She graduated from there in 2004.

For five years, Brenda drove a school bus. She describes that job as having a lot of responsibility, but she could also relate well with the students.

Soon, however, Brenda found herself in a difficult and unhealthy relationship involving verbal domestic violence. This brought her some direct exposure to the benefits of police work.

“I always wanted to have a career that can make a difference in people’s lives,” Brenda said. So, she began taking courses at Middlesex Community College as a pathway toward earning a degree in criminal justice.

Brenda soon was hired as an inspector for the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles in the commercial vehicle safety division. However, she was still looking for a career where she could help people more directly.

Since the Connecticut DMV is also considered part of the state’s protective services, Brenda applied to the Police Academy (POST) in Meriden. This involved passing a multitude of exams—agility, written, psychological, and polygraph tests as well as an oral interview and a medical exam. She lived at the facility for six months while her mother, who is originally from Puerto Rico, cared for her son. Brenda graduated from the Connecticut Police Academy in 2015 and went on to serve the DMV for four years handling truck inspections and motor vehicle stops throughout the state. (See CT DMV video Brenda appeared in.)

With sights on finishing a criminal justice degree, Brenda continued taking classes part-time at MxCC. “The teachers are great and very helpful. I really like Middlesex,” Brenda said. “I especially liked my English 101 professor, who was easy to understand and explained things well.”

She later went on to become a full-time municipal police officer and in May 2019, she completed a lateral transfer to a position with the Branford Department of Police Service. The department publicly welcomed her with a post on their social media platforms.

“I love the people in Branford. Everyone is very nice and welcoming, and they respect law enforcement,” she said.

As of the Fall 2019, Brenda has three more courses left to take at Middlesex and plans to graduate with an associate degree in May 2020. She is looking to attend the University of New Haven and eventually complete a four-year degree in criminal justice.

“I see things as a single mom. Pursue your goals and don’t give up,” she said. “Stay determined and focused and keep trying even when it’s gets hard.”

September 2019

Several years ago, MxCC Criminal Justice graduate Christian Vazquez heard a motivational speaker on television talk about how to be successful.  “I can’t remember his name,” Christian said.  “But I remember that he said if you want to accomplish goals, write them down and look at them every single day.  So, that’s what I did.”

Christian, who at the time was 25 years old and working full-time as a CNC machinist, wrote down his four goals:

• Go to a two-year college and earn a degree in business administration
• Join the Army
• Find job in law enforcement
• Earn a bachelor’s degree

He hung the list on his bedroom wall, a daily reminder of what he wanted to do with his life. Seven years of very hard work and dedication later, he has (nearly) achieved all four goals.

The first goal he accomplished was earning that business administration degree from Middlesex Community College, which he completed in 2011 (while working full time).  Next, he joined the Army National Guard, becoming the first member of his family to ever serve in the US Armed Forces.  He completed boot camp at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri in May 2012 and went to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, that August to serve as a military police observer, controller and trainer.  As a private first class, Christian trained other guardsmen in transporting prisoners, interviewing inmates, and riot control (an assignment typically given to someone at the sergeant level or higher).  He also served on a task force that trained and evaluated all MP companies preparing to be deployed to Cuba, Afghanistan and other places.  At the same time, he trained in military combat support to these companies.

Christian’s tour ended without being deployed and he returned to Connecticut to complete his six year commitment, serving as a military police officer at the West Hartford Reserve Center.  During this time, he re-enrolled at MxCC to pursue his criminal justice degree – thereby taking steps towards his goal of working permanently in law enforcement.

Christian said he felt very privileged to be taking classes from MxCC’s exceptional and accomplished faculty – which included an FBI agent, a police chief, and a criminologist.  These professors used their own personal experiences in law enforcement to give students the “real-life” view of what they were learning in the classroom.  Christian thought this made classes extremely interesting, and said the overall Criminal Justice program at MxCC provided a thorough look at the entire profession – the good, the bad, the risks (including risking your own life) and the rewards.

With each class, Christian became more convinced that he was on the right path.  He talked to every professor as much as he could during and after class to see what else he could learn from them.   MxCC’s small class size and the encouraging learning environment helped Christian develop meaningful relationships with fellow students and faculty, and succeed in his work.  This was especially important when he faced conflicting deadlines with his many responsibilities. Although he worked during lunch breaks and well into the nights to complete class assignments on time, there were instances when he just had to reach out for help.

“The only reason I was able to complete my degree on time was because my professors at MxCC gave me their full support,” Christian said.  “I got to know every professor and they got to know me and my situation.  When they knew I had weekend drills coming up, they gave me a little extra flexibility to complete my work.  This made all the difference in the world.”

When it came time to apply for the Corrections Academy, Christian again turned to his professors for help preparing for the written exam and oral interview.  After he was accepted, he now had a new workload to fit into his already-packed schedule of full-time work, some remaining classes at MxCC needed for graduation, National Guard duties, and, of course, his family.

“It was a tough time but by the grace of God I had the strength to get through it,” he said.

And he did get through it, graduating this past summer from MxCC’s Criminal Justice Program (earning his second degree from the College) and from the Corrections Academy.  He immediately began a full-time job as a corrections officer working at Hartford Correctional Center, a level 4, high-security urban jail that primarily holds pre-trial offenders.  He could now officially quit his machinist job – and cross one more goal off his list.

There is one more item on Christian’s list, which is still taped to his wall:  earning a bachelor’s degree.  He is tackling that goal this fall at Waterbury’s Post University, where he was accepted into the Business Administration and Management Program.

Christian believes with hard work and motivation, anyone can set and meet his or her goals.  “First, I think people need to search their souls to find out what they want do with their lives,” he said.  “Then, they can make a plan – and a back-up plan – to achieve those dreams.  The important thing is for people to put their time in to get what they want, and to never quit!”

It took a little while for Christian to understand this in his own life.  But with an amazing amount of energy and hard work, he has turned his list of dreams into a list of actual accomplishments.  He has built a better life for himself and for his family – with thanks, in great part, to the opportunities and people at MxCC.

By Gary Wallace, MxCC 2009

MxCC was my second chance at higher education.

But before that in 1985, I graduated from East Hampton High School and received a dual scholarship for soccer and baseball to attend Mitchell College in New London, CT, the next year. My major was business administration.

Unfortunately, I was more interested in athletics than books, and I did not do well that first year. Although I was due to return the next year, I decided to explore the U.S. Armed Forces. My brother is a Vietnam Navy veteran, and my father and uncles are WWII Army veterans. The thought of war did not pique my interest, but the concepts of the Navy and what it had to offer did. I decided not to return to Mitchell College and joined the Navy.

Leaving behind the opportunity to play the sports I loved was difficult, but I could also play in the service, and it absolutely fulfilled my needs. My first ship was a guided missile destroyer (USS Barney DDG-6) stationed at Norfolk, VA. Trained as an operations specialist, I used radar and tracking equipment in the ship’s Combat Information Center. We also had a soccer team that played teams in other countries as we traveled.

The Barney decommissioned in 1990, and I was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy CV-67. The Kennedy was like a floating city! We had 5,200 sailors on board and several aircraft. The Kennedy and its battle group were involved in the Persian Gulf War and assisted in missions across the Mediterranean Sea. Upon return from the Gulf War in 1991, the ship was docked for many months for an overhaul. While in port, the Kennedy team participated in the Norfolk Naval Base Soccer Tournament against some of the best athletes in the area. Keep in mind, Norfolk is the largest US naval base in the world. Our team won the championship that year going 10-1, and yours truly was named the most valuable player. Believe it or not, having that connection to the sport I loved kept me thinking about home. My parents were always big supporters of us growing up, and I truly missed them. I was only 24 when I separated from the Navy after four years, so I returned home to Connecticut.

Then I applied to the Middletown Police Department, not really knowing what to expect. Having matured over the years, I needed to consider going back to school. Law enforcement seemed like a natural option. I loved community, family, helping others and the uniform. My father was an auxiliary police officer in New York many years ago, and we discussed this decision. He had reservations but ultimately agreed, as did my mother. She also stressed that going back to school was very necessary, and that I would need my education going into this or any career. She was right. During my time in the military, I further understood the importance of a quality education and a solid foundation to which my life would be built upon.

So, midway through my law enforcement career I found all of that at MxCC! After working for almost six years in Middletown, I knew that it was time to get back into school. When I began to consider options, I knew that my veteran status would be helpful. MxCC was the perfect choice for me. It had been many years since I had set foot in the classroom, and this was my second chance at college. I tested exceptionally well for placement, but I knew that a smaller, close-knit, environment was the best thing for me. The advisers who I worked with initially were like family. Always helpful, always there to answer questions, always took the extra time to clear up any concerns. I often wondered, “What took me so long to get here?”

We jump-started my educational journey with the Portfolio Development course which allowed working, experienced students like myself the opportunity to turn documented life experience into good, quality, educational credits. I earned 33 credits that semester, so coupled with my transferred credits from Mitchell College, the military and the police academy, I was well on my way to my associate degree. What also worked out well for me at MxCC was the veteran tuition waiver, and the City of Middletown reimbursed me for books and fees. I must admit that living nearby was also a plus. Finally in 2009, I proudly received an associate degree in criminal justice.

The staff at MxCC has been so helpful, trusting and vested in my future that our personal relationships continue to this day. Whether I am invited to campus for a meeting or a special event, the filming of a commercial, or as a special guest of President Wasescha on her radio show, I have always been blessed to have such great support around me. My experiences at MxCC have played a major role in my advancement in law enforcement. All my career successes have been supported by my education from MxCC.

Finally, I am extremely proud to have worked with the MxCC’s criminal justice coordinator, Rebecca Rist-Brown, on a very important topic—internships. Together, we have reshaped our agencies’ relationship. MxCC interns interested in law enforcement now work hand in hand with Middletown detectives in the Investigative Services Division, which I oversee. The experiences and relationships that have been formed under this new initiative have been invaluable.

I would like to thank everyone at MxCC for being my solid foundation!