nothin New Asst. Chief: We’re Stronger Now | New Haven Independent

New Asst. Chief: We’re Stronger Now

Paul Bass Photo

Leslie Reyes pins a badge, then a kiss, on her husband.

Basking in applause and well-wishes at his swearing-in Thursday afternoon, New Haven’s new assistant police chief reminded people of a darker moment in his department’s history.

The new assistant chief, Otoniel Reyes, reminded the 100 cops and community members who jammed City Hall’s atrium about the state of the department 10 years ago — when a federal raid swept up corrupt cops and a parade of out-of-town chiefs and assistant chiefs took turns running the show.

Failed leadership and corruption gave the reins of this department to outsiders,” Reyes said.

Reyes (pictured), who’s 44 (and who often goes by Tony”), is anything but an outsider. He grew up in the Hill. He has steadily risen through the ranks in 17 years in the department. So his swearing-in Thursday had the air not just of a hometown celebration, but of perhaps a turning point for the department.

Although the road has been tough for this department, we have endured and thrived,” he remarked to the crowd.

It was a rare moment of unity for a department and a city riven these days by political infighting.

Besides the flood of current cops, the crowd included retired Acting Chiefs Stephanie Redding and John Velleca, city firefighters, suburban chiefs, and U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly and members of her staff, with whom Reyes has worked closely on the Project Longevity” anti-gang violence initiative.

We are all New Haven proud today,” declared Pastor Todd Foster (pictured), who gave the invocation and benediction.

Foster also noted that even New Haven Independent commenters had nothing bad to say about Reyes when this article announced his promotion from head of the detective bureau.

In his 17 years in the department, Reyes has run one of the two Hill policing districts, served as a crisis negotiator, and overseen the homicide and major crimes unit. (Lt. Herb Johnson will now assume the latter command.) Reyes has attracted loyalty and respect in the ranks as well as in the community, as evidenced by Thursday’s crowd.

Interim Chief Anthony Campbell (pictured), who presided over the event, called Reyes a man of honor and compassion and conviction and duty” who does what’s right even when nobody’s looking.”

Reyes’ promotion still leaves one of the four assistant police chief spots vacant. It would be filled if Mayor Toni Harp decided to name Campbell the permanent chief. Campbell, who also rose through the ranks in New Haven, took over as acting chief on Sept. 2 after Dean Esserman, the third consecutive chief brought in from out of town, left office amid controversy.

Under Chief Campbell’s command, the department hasn’t missed a beat,” Harp said at the event. For that, I am grateful.”

David Reyes, 7, handled video duties from the front row at his dad’s swearing-in.

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