New Haven Independent

Search Begins For A New Chief

by Paul Bass | December 9, 2009 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)

(Updated 12:09 p.m.) New Haven said: Please stay. Then Police Chief James Lewis checked his email.

He received a message from his 30-year-old daughter Melissa in Wisconsin.

“There was a great story in the Independent, with a lot of blogging [about Lewis’s plans to leave the city when his current contract expires]. It was very positive. Frankly it made me feel good,” Lewis recalled at a press conference at police headquarters Wednesday morning.

“But I got an email from my daughter. And she said, ‘I just read that story in the paper.’ She said, ‘The wrong people are voting.’

“‘I vote: Time to come home.’”

That sealed the deal. Once New Haven finds a new police chief, Lewis is leaving the city he swooped into in July of 2008.

Lewis announced to his top staff Wednesday morning that he’s leaving at the end of his contract, which expires Jan. 31, but he’s willing to stay on until the city finds a replacement. He repeated that announcement at a press conference at 10 a.m.

Officials then announced the launch of a nationwide search for his replacement. The search should take two to four months, Mayor John DeStefano said. Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts will lead the search in consultation with Police Commission head Rick Epstein.

The city has also asked the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to help with the search. It helped find Chief Lewis in the previous search.

Asked what the city plans to do if the search takes longer than four months and Lewis departs, DeStefano responded, “I don’t have any reason to believe it will take more than two to four months.” Both he and Lewis spoke of how the department is in stronger shape than when Lewis arrived — and therefore the chief’s job is a more attractive lure to potential candidates. The city had trouble filling the job last time around. Then, it had only an 18-month contract open (the remainder of previous Chief Francisco Ortiz’s term). This time a full four-year contract is available, and a new pact with the police union is in place, along with a strengthened department.

Lewis offered advice Wednesday for his successor: Trust your cops.

“I trusted them 18 months ago,” he said. “I trust them even more today.”

The press conference at police headquarters ended weeks of speculation about whether Lewis would agree to extend his contract a full year, or even longer, as some in town have urged. Read about that here.

Lewis currently makes $150,000 a year. The salary range for the job maxes out at $160,000.

While the city will look nationally for Lewis’s replacement, it will also consider internal candidates.

Assistant Chief Peter Reichard (at right in photo) is considered a serious candidate for the job. Reichard said he is considering applying for the job and is discussing the decision with his family. Another assistant chief, Stephanie Redding (at left), declined comment after the press conference when asked about her intentions.

The two other assistant chiefs — dubbed the “Beach Boys” when they accompanied Lewis to New Haven to help him with his 18-month mission — appear ready to leave with him.

Assistant Chief Roy Brown (pictured at the press conference with mayoral spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga) plans to leave on Jan. 31. Assistant Chief Ken Gillespie said that “at this point in time I don’t have any intention of applying for the job.”

Unlike the other assistants, Gillespie did not attend Wednesday’s press conference. “There’s been no discussion between me and the city regarding my taking over for Chief Lewis. I hadn’t really considered applying,” Gillespie said later. He said he has enjoyed working here.

Lewis’s replacement will be under pressure to build on the accomplishments of a chief who many believe turned around the force. He cut crime and rebuilt public confidence in the police, removing the epithet “scandal-plagued” from the department’s moniker.

The city drafted Lewis to come to New Haven in July of 2008 to spend 18 months overseeing a shake-up of the department — instituting broad new rules, rebuilding the narcotics division, developing new leadership, carrying out a reorganization designed by an outside panel of experts. A 40-year-old “hold-down” system, in which private clubowners hire cops to control extra-duty work assignments, is on its way out. Wayward cops have been disciplined. A traffic enforcement initiative is underway. For the first time in memory New Haven is joining most other cities in reporting crime statistics to the FBI. Lewis himself has been all over town getting to know people and responding to complaints. The department’s handling of the high-pressure Annie Le murder case received particularly high marks. (Click on the play arrow to watch snippets from his announcement about the arrest of a suspect.)

After the press conference, Lewis got a congratulatory send-off from Police Union Lou Cavaliere (pictured). Cavaliere has worked, and butted heads, with nine chiefs. He proclaimed Lewis among the best.

Cavaliere and Lewis were on different sides of some controversial issues, including discipline of officers accused of wrongdoing and the elimination of extra-duty “hold-downs” at nightclubs.

Throughout, Cavaliere said, Lewis was a good person to work with.

“I’m going to miss him,” the union chief said. “He demanded a lot from the members [of the force]. They respected him. I’m sad to see him leave.”

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Comments

Posted by: Brian | December 9, 2009 10:14 AM

Reichard for Chief!!!

Posted by: robn | December 9, 2009 10:31 AM

Too bad,

Good Luck Chief Lewis to you and your family. Thanks for uplifting New Haven a little bit.

Posted by: citizen | December 9, 2009 10:43 AM

The City has lost a good Chief and I am sorry to see him go. Chief Lewis made a differnce in our City maybe he will have a change of heart if not take it Stepanie Redding

Posted by: KeepItUp | December 9, 2009 10:47 AM

Thanks Chief Lewis for all the great work, and good luck in your future endeavors. You've made the city a better place. We need to continue this trend. If New Haven could seriously reduce its crime, to where people thought it was safer than most cities, I think New Haven could win as the "Best Small City in America". I have been here 8 yrs and most people I've spoken with who have moved here in that time say they love the city with their only concern being about crime/safety. For the size of the city we have an awesome dowtown rich in culture, restaurants, cafes, shops, architecture, good parks, etc. And we have a great New England location - NYC/Bos/VT/NH/mountains/ocean all within close range. The city is seeing some great economic development, and making great strides in reducing crime. Provided we have police programs in place that actually work (which Chief Lewis has helped to establish) I have no problem with the city spending more of my tax dollars on fighting crime. I hope we find another great police chief and continue these trends.

Posted by: R | December 9, 2009 11:09 AM

This really could be the "Best Small City in America," but the negatives (street crime, aggressive driving, drugs, poverty, prison release w/o rehab...) really need to be dealt with. We are well on our way, but let's keep up the momentum and hire someone as great as Lewis and accept nothing less.

Posted by: Nan Bartow | December 9, 2009 11:25 AM

Chief Lewis, Thanks for all you have done for New Haven to make it a safer place. I hope your replacement will continue your policies and will build on your achievements. You can be proud of the good works you are leaving behind in our city.

Posted by: Oh well | December 9, 2009 12:14 PM

It was great while it lasted. ...

Posted by: The Count | December 9, 2009 12:24 PM

Not to worry: New Haven will revert to type and hire a top cop along the lines of a DiLieto or a Pastore.

Posted by: streever | December 9, 2009 12:55 PM

Good luck Chief Lewis! thanks for your hard work & dedication to fixing New Haven.

Posted by: Claudia Herrera | December 9, 2009 1:08 PM

Thank you Chief Lewis

Whit your open mind, you shout screaming mouths, open blind eyes and by taking different approach to unhearing ears, you encouraged them to participate and be part of the solution.

The result of you job as a leader clearly represents the example we need in New Haven to understand that the quality, preparation and values in the human being has are the ones that create a real leader.

Thank you for showing the quality of your job and by just being who you are, you demonstrated that YES it is possible to make New Haven a better place to live.

Good luck to you.

Posted by: KRENAY | December 9, 2009 1:21 PM

Lewis should stay!!! Or at least help choose the right candidate.....

Posted by: Almost ex-resident | December 9, 2009 2:21 PM

Best of luck to you, Chief. Thanks for your professionalism. I'm glad that I'm moving away soon after your departure. I shudder for the future of New Haven without your influence.

Posted by: anon | December 9, 2009 3:12 PM

the city has unprecedented support for hiring Lewis's replacement from outside. That support won't necessarily be there forever and New Haven's need for an outsider -- and the cream of the crop you might get from that large a search -- remains very strong.

If the city doesn't do that, it would be at least foolish, but likely a sign of far worse than just foolish.

Posted by: streever | December 9, 2009 3:22 PM

We can't deny the call of family! I'm glad for the Chief that he'll be able to go home & enjoy his well-deserved vacation. (I also hope you get around to writing that book! You've experienced a lot and your anecdotes are always very well-delivered)

We'll miss you Chief Lewis. Thanks for all of your hard work. You've really treated New Haven like it's your own home.

Posted by: OzoneRoad | December 9, 2009 4:22 PM

what made Lewis a great fit for New Haven was a "can-do" attitude and a reluctance to accept the "business as usual" mantra that plagued the department.

Chief Lewis, you must have some great contacts- can you refer one of your friends/former co-workers to this job posting?

Aggressive drivers, street crime, truancy, and loitering still need to be addressed. Why is it that when I go to the suburbs (Branford being notable) that I'm treated with respect when in a crosswalk, but when I'm in New Haven, I fear for my life even when it's my turn to cross?

I hope his replacement is respected both by the officers and the public. Respect comes from experience, clear goals, and an implementation plan. Rob Smuts has his work cut out in this search!

Posted by: DKR | December 9, 2009 5:01 PM

let's get the facts straight,..the "hold downs" also apply to the other local businesses that hire cops as well,...shaw's, tweed airport, walgreens, walmart,..if one goes,..THEY THEY ALL GO,..!!!!

Posted by: V | December 9, 2009 5:15 PM

Total crap. It's rare that you have a police chief who gets almost universal praise. Why can't we hang on to him? Pay him what he's worth.

If you make this a safe, orderly city, people will come back to live in the city, resuscitate the tax base and schools . . . the return on investment will be off the charts.

Posted by: Remember | December 9, 2009 5:56 PM

Good call Ozone: Would love to see some recommendations by Lewis for his replacement!

Posted by: Mayberry | December 9, 2009 8:37 PM

Chief Lewis congrats you deserve alot of praise. But as you know this couldn't have been accomplished without the help of good hard working police officers in your command structure. Forcing a few retirements in patrol of the remaining Cisco faithful and replaced with the double B's Blanchard and Bombalicki has paid a dividend. Continue to clean house with the malcontents.

Posted by: citysavior | December 9, 2009 8:57 PM

Thank you Chief Lewis
You have helped our city and now its time to spend time with your family. Also thank your family for letting us barrow you for 18 months, we are grateful for their sacrifice.
To the Mayor, now lets continue down the road that our police department is going on by selecting a in house choice for chief like Chief Reichard to continue this good work. why bring in another chief who may not want to continue this good work.

Posted by: don't hire from within | December 9, 2009 10:55 PM

Chief thanks for the support you gave the City of New Haven and the Police officers you commanded. You cleaned up some of the trash and encouraged others to shape up or be dealt with. It's sad to see your daughter asking you to leave if she can only see what you have achieved and let you finish what you started.
This has been the first time I have seen the officers of New Haven stand proud and be confident knowing they had a Chief behind them. It would be sad if the Mayor went back and hired from within. Any candidate from within ... or any other will just bring back the old buddy system that ruined the department prior Chief Lewis arrival. The department has moved forward to improve and hopefully this will continue by hiring another outsider from outside the state. Thanks Chief Lewis and god bless you and your family.

Posted by: kamb | December 10, 2009 12:06 AM

Bring back Norwood!

Posted by: L | December 10, 2009 6:01 PM

Case in point about Lewis' offensive pursuit w/ the traffic stops: The shooter killed in Times Square today during evasion for a petty crime was already wanted for assault, and the gun he was using was stolen. If the cop hadn't pursued him for scamming tourists, they never would have gotten this dangerous creep off the streets. Luckily he didn't kill anyone else in the process, besides himself, though he easily could have. A quote from an online piece about the shooting that discusses the same type of offense strategy in NYC: NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said officers pay special attention to scams and panhandling during the holidays. Specialized units are set up in areas, including Times Square and Canal Street, where stolen goods, knockoffs and scams are prevalent.
"We focus on them this time of the year, because they're preying on tourists during the Christmas holidays," Browne said.
New York City's crackdown on panhandling began under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, when "zero-tolerance" policing was instituted to curb quality-of-life offenses. Panhandling, public drinking, public urinating, graffiti and disorderly conduct were all part of the crackdown as a way to bring order to the city by sending the message that no crime would be tolerated.
When Mayor Michael Bloomberg first took office in 2002, one of the first things he did was launch "Operation Clean Sweep," aimed at those same quality-of-life problems. By the end of Bloomberg's first term, the program had had resulted in some 33,000 arrests and 350,000 summonses.

Search Begins For A New Chief

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