Mayor: New Britain Police Will Get Interim Chief By July 1

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Mayor Tim O'Brien promised Thursday that the police department will have an interim chief by the time William Gagliardi retires July 1, but did not say who he intends to hire or how long the interim leader will serve.

The mayor provided fewer reassurances about how quickly the city can address the deepening staffing shortage or make desperately needed promotions to shore up the command staff.

Police union President John Gonzalez publicly warned Thursday night that conditions are deteriorating to the point where police will be unable to quickly respond to calls.

"I don't think 'crisis' is the word any more," Gonzalez told O'Brien at a special meeting of the police commission called to discuss staffing. "We're more than 40 [officers] short, and after July 1 we'll lose more."

As officers are pulled from the youth bureau and detective division to bolster the depleted patrol ranks, those special units won't function as well, he said.

"It will just be a terrible ripple," Gonzalez said.

"Some of my officers are going without even having lunch, they're just going from one call to the other," Sgt. Allan Raynis said.

Personnel Director Karen Levine said promotions and hiring are both falling behind schedule because of delays in assembling panels of administrators to interview prospective candidates. O'Brien said the city is looking for ways to stem the flow of resignations while attracting more already-trained officers, but wouldn't discuss specifics.

O'Brien promised that a new chief is one the way. Officers in the troubled department have been talking for weeks about various retired chiefs and captains from other cities who might take over when Gagliardi, a 41-year veteran, walks out.

One name that's been mentioned frequently is Daryl Roberts, who retired as chief of Hartford's police force earlier this year. Roberts on Thursday said he has not been offered the job, and declined to say whether he's been interviewed for it.

The city hasn't publicly said how long an interim chief would serve, or precisely what the expectations would be. The battered department is looking for fresh leadership after Gagliardi's administration has slowly crumbled under the weight of mounting scandals, federal lawsuits, internal fighting, resignations, severe understaffing and allegations of bias and favoritism.

O'Brien said once an acting chief is in place, he wants to conduct a national search for a long-term replacement. Many officers have suggested that the city promote Acting Capt. James Wardwell, saying he is a nationally respected investigator and a talented administrator who stayed clear of the troubles that dogged Gagliardi and his command staff.

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