Christopher Peak Photo
Chief Reyes at a Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
Mayor Toni Harp has settled on her choice for a new top city cop: Otoniel Reyes.
Harp will forward her recommendation to the Board of Alders, which must approve her choice, according to multiple people familiar with the decision.
Reyes, who is currently serving as acting chief of the department, emerged as the choice from among three finalists.
Although Harp is waiting to make an official announcement, word of her decision spread like wildfire through the city Thursday night, ending months of speculation and public lobbying for various candidates for the job.
Veteran police-accountability activist Michael Jefferson said he ran into Reyes at a charitable event Thursday night hosted by the New Haven Firebirds and offered Reyes his support. Jefferson said he had backed two other applicants for the job (retired cops John Velleca and Kenny Howell) but believes it’s time now for the community to help the mayor’s choice tackle pressing challenges including overpolicing and officer implicit bias.
“We had a very productive exchange about his new role. I think he wants to do the right thing. He wants to be a good chief,” Jefferson said. “I want to give him that chance to show what he can do; I’m going to support him. It’s important that he be successful. It’s important for New Haven. It’s important for the African-American community.”
“Tony worked for me for many years. He’s competent. He’s got more than enough experience. He’s got the officers’ best interest at heart. He’s the chief the department needs right now in tense times,” said John Velleca, a retired assistant chief.
Harp and Reyes declined comment for this story.
Over his 19 years in the department, Reyes has served in pretty much all capacities: beat patrol cop (in the Hill), crisis negotiator, district manager (also the Hill), detective, chief of detectives, patrol supervisor, member of state-federal-local working groups identifying and arresting the city’s most violent gang members under a program called Project Longevity. He has developed working relationships with state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Reyes, 47, grew up in the Hill. He worked at a drug treatment facility in the neighborhood before switching to police work.
Allan Appel Photo
Reyes with Harris on a recent community walk in Newhallville.
Serving as acting chief since predecessor Anthony Campbell’s retirement in March, Reyes has had a chance to demonstrate how he would lead the department. He was the face of the department in the wake of a controversial shooting in the Newhallville neighborhood by Hamden and Yale cops, for instance.
“I like him. I love that he showed the leadership to want to be part of walking the streets of Newhallville,” said Newhallville Community Management Team leader Kim Harris, who met Reyes during an event in her neighborhood following the shooting.
If confirmed by the alders, Reyes will assume control of a department facing multiple challenges in addition to the ongoing nationwide police debates over police accountability and community relations:
• Depleted ranks. That challenge also present Reyes with an opportunity: He will be naming a new team of assistant chiefs — with dozens of potentially qualified people out of the mix due to a year-plus-long wave of retirements and resignations, including five just last week. He will also be filling a raft of other top positions, with a chance to nurture young talent.
• The continuing quest for a new police union contract. The city and the union ended up in arbitration after failing for two years to reach a new agreement after the old contract expired. Officers are fleeing the force because of fears over health and retirement givebacks. Earlier this week Mayor Harp revealed on WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program that the two sides have made new progress on a deal, stepping back from arbitration to make a new stab at negotiation.
• Attracting new cops, including local recruits and black and Latino candidates. The city is seeking to recruit a new class of cadets, and so far have received far fewer applications than in the past. Only 91 applications came in between June 17 and 26, about a quarter of the usual pace. The application deadline for this class is July 15.
Click here and on the Facebook Live video to hear Reyes expand on his policing views in an interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program.
I've been impressed by him and like that he's come up in New Haven. Best of luck to him in his new role.