Allan Appel File Photo
The police department’s new top command team continued to take shape as the chief named Lt. Luiz Casanova to head the patrol division.
Chief Frank Limon had already promoted Casanova (at left in photo) last July from his perch as head of the Fair Haven policing district to citywide night-shift patrol commander. (Click here for a previous story about Casanova’s popularity in Fair Haven, where he oversaw a decline in crime.)
Now Casanova will occupy the position just vacated by Patrick Redding when Limon named Redding and two others — John Velleca and Petisia Adger — the department’s new assistant chiefs. He will be the top cop in charge of patrol for the city.
Officials are seeking to bolster the ranks of top cops who come up through the department in order to build a “bench” for future leadership.
Limon called Casanova, a 15-year police veteran who’s 43 and grew up in the Hill neighborhood, “a great addition to the new management team. He has strong community policing experience, problem analysis and solving strengths.”
Casanova’s appointment took effect Sunday. He called his new promotion “a great opportunity. I have a great group of men and women that work with me. Hard work for these guys has become a habit.”
Casanova said that when he moved to night patrol commander last year, he brought with him from Fair Haven an emphasis on “proactive, aggressive, intelligent policing.” He said that in a recent seven-day period, on-duty cops on his shift issued over 450 traffic violations and picked up 30 people with outstanding warrants in the process. They also collected 30 illegal handguns over the past 30 to 45 days. Casanova said he hopes to continue that “proactive” approach with the entire division and to “help people find their potential.”
Thank you for this!
"450 traffic violations and picked up 30 people with outstanding warrants."