This Ridgefield Police Officer ROCKS!

*This article appeared in Ridgefield Magazine

During the day, Ridgefield Police Officer Tom Dardis can be found cruising the streets enforcing the law. But come nightfall, the 36 year old transforms from Officer Dardis into Rocker Dardis. He puts his pistol aside and takes out his Taylor 814ce electric guitar. Dardis is a member of Whiskey Preacher, an acoustic rock-and-roll band that entertains crowds in Fairfield and Litchfield counties. “I love being a police officer, helping people and interacting with people. When I’m playing, I’m interacting with people too,” Dardis says with a laugh.

Jamming with Dardis in Whiskey Preacher are two other musicians that, says Dardis, also have “day jobs.” Ridgefielder Eric Christensen works in finance and Brook­field resident Tom Sullivan, Dardis’s cousin, is in real estate. “I met Eric when he came into the police department to file a report. He was wearing a drummer T-shirt so I asked him about it,” says Dardis.

The band practices once a week in Christensen’s home recording studio and performs three to four times a week at local venues, including restaurants such as the new Hideaway, Bissell House, and La Piazza. “We also play in Newtown, Danbury, New Milford, as well as private parties,” says Dardis. “Our biggest gig was opening up for Vince Neil at the Playhouse it was the most fun I’ve had playing music,” he proudly adds.

In addition to their passion for entertaining, the trio all enjoys whiskey. “We are all fans of different types of whiskey. Mine happens to be Glenfiddich,” admits Dardis.