WILTON — It’s day two on the new job for Page Reynolds, now serving as Detective/Lieutenant for the Wilton Police Department. The Connecticut native has started organizing his office, learning Maine-law terminology and meeting Wilton residents; but one book, his Bible, has already found its home on his desk.

The homicide detective, recently retired from the New Haven Department after 16 years, says he’s a cop’s cop, but he’s also an ordained minister who relies on his Bible even more than his book of criminal codes.

Reynolds considers his work as a homicide detective is his calling. Solving homicides has been one of the greatest rewards of his career.

“I’ve brought some pretty bad people to justice,” he said. One of his last acts on the Connecticut force was bringing resolution to a 2008 murder. Warrants were issued for two young brothers who shot a young acquaintance. It was a case of ending his job there on a good note, he said.

It’s a reward not only in taking criminals off the street, but solving a murder helps a grieving family find closure after the loss of their loved one to violence, he said.
Many of those family members consider him a life-long friend whom they call on the anniversary date of the death or Christmas. His ministerial experience finds words of comfort and encouragement for them. He often prays for them and with them, he said.

“I’ve seen some things I’ll never forget, but the beauty is from taking something so ugly and doing something good by helping a grieving family and community. When you put away some really bad, dangerous person you help both the family and community,” he said.

A conservative officer with a low tolerance for criminals, people have asked him how he can be so tough on crime while being a minister, he said. His response: “Would you rather have someone with a gun and badge who fears God or one who has no fear of God at all?”

The father of four, two college-age children, one in high school and one in middle school, Reynolds preaches in his church, the Church of God in Christ. There are two congregations here in Maine, one in Auburn and one in Portland, as well as churches in 52 countries, he said.

His wife has been his biggest cheerleader and supported him throughout his career as he worked long hours and also obtained a Master’s degree in Education while working on the New Haven force.

As part of that degree, he had to teach in an urban and then suburban setting but he had previously enjoyed venturing into the classroom to read to students and provide his own brand of “scared straight,” he said.

He became interested in the Wilton position as a place where he can continue to use his investigative skills while learning and gaining experience in administration. The open-arm welcome and hospitality he’s received has started the transition smoothly, he said. His goal is to help make the department one of the best in the state.

“It could be done. Wilton has a good chief and good people working for him,” he said.

An approachable person, Reynolds hopes Wilton residents who happen to see him will stop and “chew the fat.” He’s looking forward to getting to know people and bringing his family to the Blueberry Festival, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com