ENFIELD, CT — Ray Bouchard, who served nearly three decades as a member of the Enfield Police Department, including nine and a half years as deputy chief, died July 17. He was 74.
A Vermont native, Bouchard moved to Enfield in 1962, and began his tenure with the police department on July 1, 1975. He was promoted to sergeant in 1982, lieutenant in 1986 and captain in 1991. He ascended to deputy chief, the department’s second-highest rank, on Oct. 2, 1994, and remained in that post until his retirement on April 30, 2004.
After leaving the Enfield force, he went to work with the UConn Health Center Police Department, retiring in 2013 as assistant chief.
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Retired Police Chief Carl Sferrazza, who served under Bouchard as a patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant and captain, told Patch, “Ray was dedicated to the department and the community. There was no questioning his priorities to the town. He was an early supporter of CALEA (Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), which has accredited the department since 1996.”
“As a younger officer, Ray was one of those officers we tried to emulate, retired Lt. Pat Droney told Patch. “He had an amazing work ethic and was very knowledgeable. When I became a supervisor, he was one whom I relied on for counsel. I worked alongside him as part of the accreditation team. It was an enormous task, but with Ray’s guidance, we were able to get it accomplished.”
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Bouchard is survived by his wife Lori, three children, four grandchildren, three brothers and a sister.
Calling hours are scheduled Monday, July 22 from 4-8 p.m. at Browne Memorial Chapels, 43 Shaker Rd., Enfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Holy Family Church Tuesday at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the Hazardvillle Cemetery.
His complete obituary may be read here.
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