Promotees Zannelli, Dell, Healy.
The police department began refilling its depleted top ranks with the promotions of three veteran cops to the position of captain.
The Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday night unanimously approved the three promotions, of David Zannelli, John Healy, and Rose Dell.
The three emerged as the top three scorers in a civil service test for the position.
Since the retirement of Anthony Duff, the department has had no captains, the position below assistant chief. And it currently has one assistant chief, down from three.
Interim Chief Renee Dominguez said she is “excited” about the promotions. She said they will help the department “organize and deploy our resources in a more effective and efficient way. These three are well respected both within the department by their officers and peers as well as by the community.”
Zannelli is the police department’s current head of internal affairs and a former Fair Haven district manager whose success in building community trust helped boost a recent investigation into an officer’s abuse of sex workers. In 2019, Healy, the top Edgewood cop, worked with colleagues to save the life of a man who had just shot at police officers and was shot at in return; Healy applied a tourniquet and kept the man talking before an ambulance crew arrived. Dell, a former top Westville/ West Rock cop, is currently in charge of the records division, property room, body camera policy, and the animal shelter.
Congratulations! Hard-earned and well-deserved appointments.