Politics & Government

Windsor Locks Police Chief Candidate Withdraws

Thomas Fowler, Branford deputy police chief, was given a conditional offer by Windsor Locks officials after being chosen from a pool of more than 70 candidates.

 

The candidate chosen to be Windsor Locks next police chief has withdrawn his application, officials said Monday.

Thomas Fowler, Branford’s deputy police chief, was offered the position on January 20. He was chosen from a pool of more than 70 candidates, with the final three being interviewed during the night January 20.
 
First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. said Fowler withdrew his application last week but didn’t give a reason for why he decided not to take the job.

Fowler could not be reached today for comment and is away from his office in Branford at this time.

Officials said the Windsor Locks Police Commission is holding a special meeting Tuesday to discuss its next move.

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Wawruck, who was a member of the final interview committee, said the town will now have return to the search process.

“(Fowler) was a great candidate,” Wawruck said. “There are many others that are well-qualified.”

Fowler was also in the running for a chief’s position in Boxford, Mass., which he did not get.

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A North Branford native and current longtime Branford resident, Fowler had recently been up for the but was not selected – the Branford Police Commission chose former for the spot.


Before withdrawing his application, Fowler was in the hiring process with Windsor Locks to fill a vacancy left by Chief John Suchocki, who retired in August.

Fowler had been expected to begin the job as chief in March. Early last week, Windsor Locks officials said they were waiting for Fowler to complete  background checks, physical and psychiatric exams, and a polygraph test.

The commission conducted the search in the wake of the controversial handling of an October 29, 2010 fatal accident in which an off-duty police officer allegedly struck and killed 15-year-old Henry Dang with his car.

A few days after Suchocki’s retirement, an independent report of police department actions following an accident was released. The report is critical of the actions of  Suchocki after the accident.

The report says that in Suchocki’s efforts to keep the investigation “clean” he mistakenly ceded his own control to the North Central Municipal Accident Reconstruction Team. That action violated Windsor Locks’ own policies.



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