Politics & Government

Internal Communication About Renewed Search For Windsor Locks Police Chief Questioned

An applicant in the police department said there was no internal posting like the first time around.

 

The process for picking a new police chief in Windsor Locks drew criticism Tuesday from an applicant in the first round of the search.

The police commission is searching again for a new police chief after the candidate officials chose withdrew his application. The commission is using the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association to run the search.

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the board of selectmen meeting, Sgt. Ricardo Rachele, of Windsor Locks Police Department, questioned whether there was any internal notification for applicants in the second attempt at finding a new chief.

Rachele, who applied for the job in the December search, said he did not see any internal postings for the position on the second go around. He said Acting Chief Chester DeGray, who also was applicant, told him Monday he had just been made aware of when the new search was starting.  In the past, jobs in town government have been posted internally, Rachele said.

Police Commission Chairman Kevin Brace, who was at Tuesday’s selectmen meeting, said the search is an ongoing process. Brace said the applicants who were qualified in December were notified that the they were still being considered and their information was forwarded to the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association.

The position was also re-advertised externally, Brace said.

When Rachele asked what determined qualified candidates, Brace said he would not discuss those kinds of details because it involved personnel issues. The three people on the commission’s search committee are Brace, commission member George Hall and human resources director Shannon Walker.

“If they met the qualifications they were passed along,” Brace said.

Rachele said he took exception to Walker being one of the people determining if he were qualified for the position.

First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. said when the police commission met with the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, the Manchester Police Chief suggested guidelines for qualifications that the commission is using.

“He went through it explicitly,” Wawruck said. “He set the standards they should be looking for.”

Selectwoman Denise Balboni, who repeatedly asked if the position was reposted internally, said maybe the board needs to understand in general what the internal postings policies in town are.

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Brace said the position wasn't reposted internally because the search is a continuation.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here