YPD Officer Brings Laughs to Audiences

Officer Glenn Wittig may not have superhuman strength like Superman, but he protects and serves by day and brings smiles to audiences at night.

Wittig who joined the Yale Police Department 16 years ago, didn’t set out to be a comedian. He always enjoyed making people laugh and watching sitcoms but never watched a lot of standup comedians.

After numerous friends, family, and strangers told him he was a “funny guy,” and suggested he perform standup comedy, Wittig started honing his craft. He watched professional comedians’ performances and took a comedy class at The Stress Factory Comedy Club in Bridgeport.

I decided to go to comedy classes because I wanted to be a better writer. You’re trained on how to set up a joke – Wittig

“During the practices, I noticed that I paced a lot. The coaches gave me the tools I needed, and now it takes repetition,” said Wittig.

After his first performance, he was hooked. “There was definitely a learning curve when I started performing because making a group of friends laugh is different than being on stage talking to strangers and trying to make them laugh,” said Wittig. “Hanging out with comics who want to make people laugh is a fun environment. Standup comics are supportive and encouraging to be around.”

It’s not uncommon to hear stories about his wife and kids in his routine. Wittig was told by other comedians it’s best to keep his content personal and authentic and that talking about family is relatable to audiences.

Not only has he found a new passion in standup, but he has also found a new cause. Wittig noticed that there were only a few places for standup comedians to perform in Connecticut. He often meets with owners at local bars to find places for comedians to get more stage time. His actions have drawn support from area comics, who reach out to him via Facebook.

Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Demetri Martin, and John Caparulo are Wittig’s favorite comics. He said what makes a great comedian is simple, “you have to be able to make people laugh, but I’ll let you know for sure in 15 to 20 years.”

Wittig performs twice a month at Toad’s Place at 300 York Street.