Cop Orders Promote Lateral, Return Hires

New Haven’s police commission took a step this week to try to reverse the ​“blue exodus” that decimated the department’s ranks and sent trained officers to Hamden and other neighboring forces.

That step was taken Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners convened over the Zoom teleconferencing app and presided over by the group’s long-time chairman, Anthony Dawson.

By unanimous vote the commissioners passed a General Order 2.15 entitled ​“New Hire Policy.”

The thrust of the order is to a create two separate lists from which the police commissioners — the body that legally hires, and fires, officers on the recommendation of the chief — can approve new officers.

Cadets who go through New Haven’s selection process and the academy will continue to be on one list.

And fully trained officers from other departments — ​“lateral” hires — will now be on a separate list that can more efficiently be brought by Chief Otoniel Reyes for the review and potential approval of the commissioners.

Importantly, the lateral process and how to get on the list will be available for anyone anywhere to read in the general orders of the department.

Up to now the process has not been as accessible or transparent as possible, said Chief Reyes.

“So now we have a separate process for Connecticut or out-of-state officers” to consider coming to New Haven, he added.

The two-list approach came about at the request of the commissioners, who worked out details in a subcommittee, said Commissioner Evelise Ribeiro.

“We’ve been on the opposite side of our process. We now have a more streamlined process that will make us more competitive,” said Chief Reyes.

In a related unanimous vote the commissioners also approved an updated version of General Order number 2.14 entitled ​“Reinstatement of Officers Separated From Service.”

This one refers to officers, such as Officer Natalie Crosby, who leave the department for contract, financial, or personal family reasons, and then decide to return.

A policy for reinstatement of officers was ​“already on the books,” said Lt. David Zannelli, who heads the department’s Internal Affairs division.

As in the case of lateral transfers, details are now clearer in both orders about, for example, the rank and additional training required for officers rejoining the NHPD after a year of separation, or longer.

General Order 2.14 makes clear that to be eligible for reinstatement an officer ​“has separated from the Department in good standing. Any officer who was dismissed for malfeasance or other serious misconduct or resigned or retired while under investigation for such will not be eligible for reinstatement in accordance with C.G.S. (Connecticut General Statutes) Sec. 7 – 291c.”

Read the text of General Order 2.14 here; and General Order 2.15 here.

The votes took place as the department continues rebuilding from the blue exodus. Eighten new recruits took the oath in June; the department is still short approximately 100 sworn positions.

Twenty-two officers are now in the midst of their training. The department has attracted 454 applicants in its recent recruitment drive, Reyes reported.

He called that recruitment response impressive given especially the Covid restraints on in-person interactions and ​“given the climate” of anti-police protests.

“The challenge continues to be recruitment and retention as we keep up with our rate of attrition,” he added.

According to the city’s June monthly financial report, as of June 30, the police department had 240 sworn police officers current and active on the force. Overall, the department had 351 sworn personnel, including lieutenants, sergeants, detectives, captains, assistant chiefs, and the chief.