Thomas Breen Photo
Asst. Chief Herb Johnson addressing the press during last August’s K2 overdoses.
The New Haven state’s attorney’s office is starting to resemble the third floor of 1 Union Ave.
That’s because Assistant Police Chief Herb Johnson is retiring to take a job as an inspector in the state’s attorney’s office.
Johnson has put in for his retirement from the New Haven police department effective April 11.
In his new job, Johnson will join a former colleague from the third-floor chief’s suite at the Union Avenue police headquarters, Anthony Campbell. Campbell retired as New Haven’s police chief last Friday to take a job with the state’s attorney as well.
Like Campbell, Johnson has worked for the New Haven police department for 21 years; they were academy classmates. Like Campbell, Johnson had a reputation for working well with the community and with other cops. In his most recent sting, he oversaw the detective division. He has played a central role in the department’s coordination with federal and state and suburban law enforcement to target violent crime, during a period when shootings have fallen to their lowest point in decades.
Unlike Campbell, Johnson did not leave the job in part because of concerns over health benefits or future retirement benefits. Johnson is married to former Capt. Julie Johnson, who retired form the police force in 2016; so his family’s benefits were set.
Rather, he’s leaving because he has always been interested in working for the state’s attorney, Johnson said Thursday. He had applied for the position in February when it first opened; Campbell ended up getting it then. When another position opened up, Johnson applied again.
“It was a job that I always was interested in from being a detective, to work in the state’s attorney’s office. I felt I couldn’t pass up putting in for it,” said Johnson, who’s 46.
“I’m happy where I’m at. If there was any job that would take me away, it would be that one. I’m still working in New Haven. Still working for victims.”
Johnson added that his is “grateful to the community, city, and men and women of this department for my career. It was these partnerships that helped me climb the ranks.”
Johnson’s imminent departure will leave the department with two assistant chiefs (who have also been looking for other jobs). Before Campbell left, the department had four assistant chiefs. In addition to Johnson, Otoniel Reyes was one of the assistants; he is now serving as acting chief and in the running for the permanent position.
The department must now decide whether to fill the assistant chief positions. Reyes said Thursday no decision has been made yet.
“Over the next few weeks, we will be deciding” how to structure the top tier, Reyes said.
For many years the department relied on just one assistant chief. That changed after an FBI corruption investigation hit the department in 2007. On the recommendation of an outside consulting group, the NHPD created four assistant positions to increase oversight and develop and enforce standards.
In recent years, especially with a financial squeeze that has led to an exodus of officers to better-paid departments, debate has centered on whether the department needs four assistants, or whether it should return to one or two.
I won't answer this poll because we do not have sufficient information on which to base a decision.
The loss of experienced officers is a serious issue. As is the low starting pay for new recruits.<br /> When I had an office staff, my approach was to pay them the best I could and to make sure they had the tools needed to do the job. An occasional cup of tea also came in handy.<br /> As someone who has called out the police when their behavior fell short, I want to acknowledge the dedicated women and men of the NHPD who exceed our expectations and combine their humanity with their professional skills. I saw some of them this morning and won't forget.FERC recommended that the City fund a study specifically to determine the appropriate staffing levels for both police and fire departments. The Mayor has not done that, but continues to throw out numbers based on ---what?
Today I sat in on my first CompStat meeting at police headquarters and was impressed with the levels of expertise, data showing an ongoing drop in serious crime and the camaraderie of the officers and staff.