Halloran Appointed Top Cop

Capt. Kevin Halloran (pictured) was selected as the town’s new police chief last night, a decision that delighted outgoing Police Chief John DeCarlo. DeCarlo praised the Board of Police Commissioners for its decision, saying Halloran ​“possesses leadership, the ability to communicate and an incredible knowledge of data driven policing. He is bright and creative.” 

In a telephone interview after the commission acted, DeCarlo said ​“it had to be a difficult decision for the commission because the candidates were the best policing scholars in Connecticut.” Under a new system, the candidates took written and oral tests administered by an outside agency and then were interviewed for the first time by the commission last night. Each candidate’s interview was about an hour long and counted for 60 percent of the overall score.
 

The board also accepted DeCarlo’s resignation. His last official day in office is Sept. 1. He is retiring after 33 years on the police force in order to pursue an academic career. The police commission has been working on determining his successor from within the top ranks since April, when he announced his plan to retire. 

Halloran, like the other two candidates, Deputy Chief Tom Fowler, 45, and Capt. Geoffrey Morgan, 50, rose through the ranks, beginning as a patrol officer, working his way up to sergeant and then captain and last night to chief. (The three are pictured outside the police station before the voted was taken.)

While the decision was unanimous, the six-member commission debated the choices for 45 minutes before arriving at a decision. Then they opened the door. Fowler and Morgan were in the room when the decision was announced and congratulated their long-time colleague.

Then Jon Grossman, the commission’s chair, handed Halloran a contract the board had decided upon and asked him to look it over and return it soon. It was then that the reality set in. 

As commission members left the room, they indicated how hard a choice it had been. ​“Torturous,” said Grossman. ​“Very stressful,” said another. In the end their vote was unanimous. When asked by the Eagle, Grossman would not say if it started out that way.

“I would say that every commissioner is at peace with the decision. I think I can say that,” he replied.

Fowler’s contract runs to 2013. Grossman said it is up to him to decide what he wants to do; whether he wants to remain in his position as deputy chief or whether he wants to leave. ​“That is his choice.” The expectation is that Fowler will keep his job for the time being, but should he leave, his position is expected to stay open but unfilled. A new captain is likely to replace Halloran.

Capt. Morgan, who currently shares an office with Halloran, will have spent 25 years in the department as of March 2012. He said he looks forward to working with Halloran. But, he, too, could move on to a top job elsewhere. 

Halloran, who will turn 47 by Sept. 1, the date he will be sworn in, thanked his mentor publicly, saying DeCarlo ​“encouraged me to go back to school several years ago. And I think that is a major part in my success here. I owe a lot to Chief DeCarlo.” Halloran received a bachelors of science degree in 2009 and a master of science degree this year, both with honors. Both degrees were obtained at online universities. 

DeCarlo, who earned his doctorate while serving as chief, has taken a position as associate professor at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice, the same school where Halloran has applied to the PH.D program. Halloran and his wife Pam have two children, a daughter, Shannon, 12, a son Ryan, 10, and a dog named Buddy.

As he awaited the decision, Halloran told reporters that he would feel ​“honored and privileged to serve the department if I get the position. DeCarlo left us a great foundation. I want to take it to the next step. We have the momentum.” He said the department also has a great team. ​“That’s important.” 

Asked what the next step might be, DeCarlo said Halloran ​“is going to use predictive policing. That means putting cops out there before the crime happens.” 

Grossman said the commissioners selected Halloran because they were impressed with his skills and knowledge. Grossman said so much of DeCarlo’s great work was accomplished because ​“he had a man behind him of the caliber of Kevin Halloran to make these things work. The chief depended very heavily on Halloran. so we hope that that will be the foundation for the department to move to even greater heights.”

In the last year Halloran has been responsible for researching and developing innovative policing techniques to address community and department problems. He implemented a multi-town data sharing project and human Terrain Mapping project and was directly responsible for overseeing crime analysis, traffic, matrix, internal affairs and the records divisions. He also managed personnel issues, including hiring, firing, employee conflict mediation and discipline.

Halloran, Morgan and Fowler have overseen various top jobs within the department, overseeing at one time or another patrol and operations, administration, budget, planning and scheduling.

After the 45 minutes of discussion, the commissioners called the three candidates and the press into the room. The candidates stood along the wall as Grossman held the contract in his hand. Grossman then announced Halloran’s name in a motion to appoint. 

Was he surprised? Halloran was asked afterwards. ​“Very surprised, ​“Halloran said. Grossman quipped: ​“He didn’t think we were as brainy as he is.”

Grossman said that DeCarlo and Halloran have collaborated closely on many projects and ​“the succession will be a smooth one.” 

Kurt Schwanfelder, another board member, said: ​“John DeCarlo and I worked very closely for many, many years. He brought a lot of progressiveness to the department. And it is going to move in another direction under Kevin. John brought his uniqueness to it; now it’s time to see the uniqueness that Kevin will bring to it.”

First Selectman Unk DaRos, who is an ex-officio member of the board, summed it up. ​“There were three very qualified men going for this position but I think they made a very good choice. I am very pleased.” 

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