Please be aware of a telephone scam going around in which residents receive a call from an unknown person stating that a loved one has been hurt or is in trouble and that they need to immediately make a payment to resolve the situation. Some of these callers have been using profanity and making threats to harm people. If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately and do not give any information to the caller. The East Haven Police Department has received several calls over the past few days regarding this scam. You can report these scams to the police department by calling 203-468-3820.
Federal Judge Terminates Consent Decree, Dismisses Case Between Town of East Haven and Department of Justice
It’s A Wrap! – Federal Judge Terminates Consent Decree, Dismisses Case Between Town of East Haven and Department of Justice.
Below is Chief Ed Lennon’s Consent Decree Press Conference Speech delivered during a press conference earlier today marking the end of East Haven’s Federal Consent Decree.
Good morning. Thank you all for coming. I’m Ed Lennon, the Chief of Police of the East Haven Police Department. First, I would like to thank all of the men and women of the East Haven Police Department, both sworn and civilian for their hard work and dedication over the last five years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them. I would like to thank Mayor Maturo for his unwavering support during these last few years, as well as a special thanks to Attorney Larry Sgrignari who provided support throughout the duration of the consent decree. I would also like to recognize the Town Council, the Board of Police Commissioners, the Board of Finance, and the Civil Service Commission for their support and guidance throughout the Consent Decree.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank the Joint Compliance Team of Kathleen O’Toole, Rafael Ruiz, and staff along with the CT U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. Although, they were very hard on us, making sure we met our compliance timelines, their collaborative approach, while providing us guidance, couldn’t be overlooked when recognizing our success.
Our officers have worked very diligently over the last several years to improve their service to our community. Our community members put their trust in us to protect them and expect us to carry out our duties professionally and with integrity. We serve proudly and appreciate all of the support we have received from everyone.
The last five years has created a positive and monumental transformation within the Department. (7 core areas addressed by the SA). All of which could not have been achieved without the key part of the entire consent decree. TEAMWORK! Some of the key areas that deserve recognition include writing an entire policy manual consistent with the best and contemporary practices in policing in less than one year, that alone is a monumental feat. Our officers are some of the best trained both locally and nationally, focusing not only on the mandatory subject areas but also areas such as de-escalation, accountability, and leadership. All in accordance with best practices, which are far beyond the minimum requirements set by the State of Connecticut. We have equipment such as body cameras to help capture the most accurate picture of an incident. We conduct thorough investigations when officers have to use force to affect an arrest or protect others, and we take complaints even about our own very seriously. We have made great strides in bridging the gap with all members of our community. And, we hold officers accountable for their conduct. We have developed strong partnerships with our State, Federal, and local law enforcement and community partners. Despite the difficulties we’ve experienced achieving this goal during these last few years, the struggle was worth it. We are a better department for it.
We have been recognized as a leader in community policing by the United States Attorney General and have given presentations to others in law enforcement outlining how we were able to carry out transformational changes with great success in such a short period of time. We are proud of what we have achieved.
The completion of the consent decree is only a stepping stone, and not the end of our journey. The changes we made have put us at the forefront of modern progressive policing in the region and the country. We are continuing the programs we established while under the consent decree and will strive to improve our department and our relations with our residents. Moving forward, we are currently engaged in the process of accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (also known as CALEA), which is the gold standard in policing in America. The process is strenuous, but in the end, it will be worth it. Our philosophy going forward will be that of constant self-assessment to better serve our community while also continuing to be a leader in the best practices in policing.
This has and always will be a difficult and dangerous job. Police officers across the country face aggression daily merely for the uniform that they wear and what it represents. We proudly wear the uniform of the East Haven Police Department and will continue to improve that image for the public we serve. Thank you.
Chili’s Restaurant to Host East Haven Police Athletic League Give Back Night
Chili’s
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO
The East Haven Police Athletic League
Give Back Night!
Present this flyer to your server during your meal and Chili’s will donate 10% of the sales to the East Haven PAL Program. Let Chili’s do the cooking, you do the eating, and support PAL at the same time!
The East Haven PAL Night is:
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
All Day
Only at:
Chili’s East Haven
58 Frontage Road
East Haven CT
(203) 467-1533
We look forward to seeing you here!
East Haven Mayor to Pin Ed Lennon and James Naccarato as Chief and Deputy Chief of East Haven Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/25/2016
East Haven Mayor to Pin Ed Lennon and James Naccarato as Chief and Deputy Chief of East Haven Police Department
Following Brent Larrabee’s decision not to seek renewal of his contract as Chief of Police in East Haven, Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. announced today that he will appoint Ed Lennon as East Haven’s next Police Chief and promote James Naccarato, who currently serves as the Department’s professional standards officer, to Deputy Chief effective July 1, 2016.
Maturo explained, “Ed Lennon’s ascension to the role of Police Chief in East Haven is an indicator of the department’s growth, progress, and readiness to lead itself. As we approach the anticipated termination date of the police department’s agreement with the Department of Justice, it is only fitting that an outstanding police professional like Ed Lennon assumes leadership of the department.”
The recent vetting process performed by Maturo, which included soliciting input from community stakeholders, town counsel, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and the Police Commission is significantly shorter than the chief selection process which the Town embarked upon in 2012. However, Maturo was quick to point out several key factors which allowed the process to proceed more quickly and efficiently in 2016.
Maturo noted, “In 2012, the Town spent a significant amount of time in the search process revising job descriptions, developing performance measures, and detailing the accountabilities of the chief’s job. In 2012, we essentially started from scratch with respect to redefining the chief’s responsibilities in what would become a brand new department. With that procedural legwork already complete in 2016, we had the luxury of proceeding straight to the vetting process.”
In describing the differences between the vetting processes in 2012 and 2016, Maturo explained the practical performance measures he relied upon in selecting Lennon.
Maturo continued, “No formal application process could possibly compare to the vetting process Ed Lennon has gone through in the forty-one months since he assumed the difficult task of coordinating the Town’s compliance with the Department of Justice consent decree. Throughout that period, Ed Lennon has exhibited exceptional leadership and managerial skills along with the ability to build consensus. He’s demonstrated a practical understanding of the policing challenges that are unique to East Haven and the ability to develop common sense solutions to those challenges.”
Maturo added, “Since assuming the role of Deputy Chief, Ed Lennon has established himself as one of the most talented, progressive, and knowledgeable police professionals in the country. There is no doubt that he has earned the opportunity to lead this department.”
In addition to his discussions with community stakeholders and town counsel, Maturo also reached out to the United States Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice regarding Lennon’s appointment.
Attorney Lawrence Sgrignari, the Town’s legal liaison to the DOJ who has helped facilitate compliance with the Town’s consent decree explained, “When we approached local and national officials who are involved in the settlement agreement’s overnight about the prospect of appointing Lennon, there was a clear consensus about his qualifications and readiness to lead our Police Department. His work on the consent decree has impressed everyone he’s encountered and, to a significant extent, obviated the need to perform a national search.”
The final step in the vetting and search process took place Tuesday night when Maturo met with the Board of Police Commissioners in special session to solicit the Board’s input on Lennon’s potential appointment. In the same meeting, he also sought advice on the appointment of a deputy chief to replace Lennon.
Police Commission Chairman William Illingworth explained, “It was both refreshing and gracious that the Mayor took the time to solicit our Board’s input. Although the charter gives the Mayor the unilateral authority to appoint a police chief, this Board has to work with that person.”
Illingworth continued, “On Tuesday night, there was universal agreement amongst the members of the Board with the Mayor’s plan to promote Ed Lennon. At the same time, members also agreed that Professional Standards Officer James Naccarato would be an exceptional pick for Deputy Chief given his practical understanding of the Department’s new policies and procedures, especially regarding disciplinary and administrative matters.”
Illingworth noted, “James Naccarato retired as a well-respected detective in the New Haven Police Department’s homicide division after twenty-three years of service and he came to East Haven with a wealth of practical knowledge. That knowledge, in addition to the experience he has gained in his four years in East Haven, will be particularly useful in his service as Deputy Chief in East Haven.”
While the announcement of the promotions of Ed Lennon and James Naccarato came Wednesday, the Town indicated that the formal swearing-in ceremony would take place on Thursday, June 23rd to give town officials time to finalize formal employment contracts with East Haven’s new top cops. The ceremony is slated to begin at 6:00PM, but a specific venue has not yet been finalized.
Before concluding, Maturo once again thanked outgoing Chief Brent Larrabee for his service to the Town of East Haven.
Maturo explained, “East Haven has benefited tremendously from Chief Larrabee’s experience and vision. On behalf of the Town of East Haven, I want to wish him happiness in his much-deserved retirement.”
Maturo concluded, ” As our Police Department continues to move forward, we must ensure that we appoint leaders who are capable of preserving the accountability, transparency, and tolerance that we have worked so hard to restore within our Police Department. I have the utmost of confidence that Ed Lennon and James Naccarato are capable of doing so and that they will lead our Police Department with dignity and pride for years to come.”
For additional information, please contact Frank Gentilesco at 203-468-3204.