Windsor Locks Police Commission Considering Qualifications for New Police Chief

Windsor Locks Police Commission members Wednesday finalized the description of what they are looking for in their search for a new police chief.

John Suchocki, retired as chief in August. The commission is conducting the search in the wake of the controversial handling of a 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 investigation 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.

As part of its search, the commission decided at its September 27 meeting to seek external as well as internal candidates for the job. The commission on Wednesday took suggestions from the public on what qualifications and attributes they would want in a new chief.

Southwest Avenue resident Bob Glanuzina said he believes whoever the commission chooses as the new police chief, that person should be someone who has more of a presence in the community. The chief should be willing to go out in the public more often himself to see what is going on, Glanuzina said.

Sebastian Garofalo, police union president, said he feels the commission should make sure the pay for the new chief is in line with similar-sized police departments. The proposed $90,000 is below what the other communities are paying, which is $100,000 to $110,000, Garafalo said.

Commission Chairman Neal Cunningham said the commission will advertise for applicants in local and regional newspapers as well as trade journals. The applicants’ resumes will first be screened by the town’s human resource consultant and then a search committee will narrow down the field to three candidates, which will be interviewed by the police commission.

Commission member Edward Lanati suggested that two commission members help the human resource consultant in the initial screening of resumes.

The commission is looking for someone with Bachelor’s Degree or ideally a Masters degree, in criminal justice, law enforcement or public administration. The individual has to have supervisory experience with a rank of sergeant or above. Resident and former officer William Rousseau suggested  the rank of lieutenant or above.

The commission also decided to alter the composition of the search committee after several people raised concern that having a current police officer as a member may present problems. The officer would be helping decide who his or her future boss will be, officials said.

“I think it puts them in a difficult position,” Cunningham said.

Commission members said they wanted input about what officers would recommend in a new police chief.

Commission Member Dennis Gragnolati said the officer could answer questions the committee has and give a different perspective on the search. The officer would not have to be a voting member, he said.

The commission decided to have the union get comments and recommendations from its members about the kind of new police chief they’d like to see.