Jarvis, 33, was sworn in as a New Canaan police officer in a ceremony Tuesday at police headquarters with about two dozen family members, New Canaan Police officers and civic officials in attendance.
A police officer since 2011 in his hometown of Bridgeport, Jarvis decided to transfer to New Canaan when there was a job opening on the urging of his uncle Roy Adams, 39, who has been a New Canaan police officer for 14 years.
"When the position was offered I said, 'Hey, listen, you should put in an application and basically go for it,' " Adams said.
Adams sold him on the merits of working in New Canaan, Jarvis said.
"Talking to him, he had nothing but good things to say about the department, so I said, 'Why not?' " Jarvis said.
He was hired in a process where the department limits applications to officers who are already working as police officers.
Jarvis' mother, Theresa Pettway, said she was proud of her son.
"I think it is the most beautiful thing, and I feel very proud of him," Pettway said. "It is very special to know that he was selected out of so many."
Also at the ceremony was his stepmother Stacey Jarvis, mother-in-law Suzanne Farrell and Samira Ahmed, a friend of Adams.
Jarvis is a graduate of Bullard Haven Technical High School in Bridgeport and has studied criminal science and sociology at Southern Connecticut State University and Housatonic Community College.
In welcoming his new officer, New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski spoke of the Baltimore riots and the special role that police play in society. He said Jarvis will be an asset to the town's department.
"We identified one exceptional experienced officer and, of course, that officer is Clinton Jarvis," Krolikowski said. "He gratefully accepted the position to join us, and we are very happy to have him here today."
Jarvis will undergo four weeks of training with the department before he can patrol on his own.
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