Windsor Locks Police Commission Chooses New Police Chief

The Windsor Locks Police Commission on Sunday chose a new candidate for  police chief.

The candidate asked that his name not be released until he has a chance to inform his current employer about his new job, Kevin Brace, police commission chairman, said. The candidate was one of two interviewed by the commission during a special meeting Sunday.

Brace said the new chief will be paid $106,000 annually, pending a physical, polygraph test, psychological examination and background check. The commission will send him a conditional offer letter, he added.

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Choosing between the two interviewees was difficult for the commission, Brace said.

“I can tell you it was 1A and 1B when we were done interviewing,” Brace said.

This is the second time the position has been offered to a candidate this year. The first candidate, Branford Assistant Chief Thomas Fowler, was named the new police chief in January, but he withdrew his candidacy in February.

The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association helped conduct the second search, which started in March, for a new police chief. The association narrowed the applicants down to five. One of the five withdrew after being named deputy police chief in another department. The commission was eventually presented two to interview.

“The police chiefs association did a phenomenal job,” Brace said.

The police chief job has been vacant since August when John Suchocki retired after several tumultuous months that included a review of the department’s possible mishandling of the investigation into the death of a local teenager who was allegedly struck and killed by an off-duty WLPD officer.

Capt. Chester DeGray has been acting chief, and Sgt. Francis Baron was recently named acting captain to help out DeGray.