Commission Names Kehoe As Police Chief

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission Wednesday night named Michael Kehoe to the post of police chief, giving the town its first regular chief of police in almost two years.

The appointment took effect immediately, following a unanimous vote by commission members. Voting in favor were Chairman James Reilly and members Charles Pilchard, Carol Mattegat, Robert Connor, Jr, and Richard Simon.

After Police Commission members placed former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, on administrative leave in July 1999, they named Mr Kehoe to run the police department. Following Mr Lysaght’s firing in March 2000, commission members appointed Mr Kehoe “acting chief” in April 2000. Mr Kehoe had served as acting chief until Wednesday night when commission members named him police chief.

On the advice of the town attorney, commission members waited to fill the police chief vacancy until after Mr Lysaght’s appeal period on a recent Danbury Superior Court loss had expired. The appeal period expired May 12.

Through an administrative appeal which he recently lost in court, Mr Lysaght had sought to be reinstated as police chief. A judge ruled, however, that the commission was justified in firing Mr Lysaght based on unsatisfactory job performance. 

Following a motion from Police Commission member Carol Mattegat to name Mr Kehoe as police chief, Mr Pilchard said, “He’s done an excellent job” as acting chief.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” said Mrs Mattegat.

Mr Simon praised Mr Kehoe’s abilities, noting his handling of a murder investigation and a bank robbery while supervising the police department. “I think he’s a great asset to the town,” Mr Simon said, adding that Mr Kehoe had come to lead the department during a period when the organization was experiencing internal problems.

 Following the unanimous vote, Mr Reilly said, “There will be a need to negotiate a contract with the first selectman.” Although the Police Commission hires the police chief, the terms of a police chief’s work contract are negotiated between the chief and the first selectman.

Commission members designated Mr Reilly and Mr Pilchard to participate in the work contract negotiations. Mr Kehoe has been paid $72,500 annually while serving as acting chief.

Residency Requirement

Previous police chiefs have been required to live in Newtown while serving as chief.

When they hired Mr Lysaght as chief in July 1996, commission members required that he move to Newtown from Bristol within two years. Mr Lysaght moved to Sandy Hook slightly more than two years after he became chief.

Former chief Michael DeJoseph lived in Sandy Hook while chief. Mr DeJoseph’s predecessor, former police chief Lou Marchese, also had lived in Newtown.

Mr Reilly suggested that the commission not require Chief Kehoe to live in Newtown while serving as police chief. Chief Kehoe, 45, lives with his wife and two sons in Watertown.

Mr Reilly said that Chief Kehoe’s long involvement in Newtown activities while serving in various capacities at the police department has demonstrated that Newtown is his “second home.” Mr Kehoe began work as a police officer in Newtown in 1978.

But Mrs Mattegat saw the matter differently.

She urged that the commission continue to require that the police chief live in Newtown. Otherwise, commission members could come to regret waiving the residency requirement, she said.

Mr Simon pointed out that the commission had required Mr Lysaght to move to Newtown to familiarize himself with the community, which was new to him.

Mrs Mattegat responded that Newtown residency always has been a requirement for a police chief.

“This type of requirement should be overlooked or changed in this case,” Mr Simon responded.

Mr Reilly asked that he and Mr Pilchard have some sense of the commission’s thinking on the residency issue for their participation in the police chief labor contract negotiations.

On that note, Mr Simon made a motion to waive the police chief residency requirement due to Chief Kehoe’s familiarity with Newtown. That motion, however, did not receive a second from any commission member.

Mrs Mattegat then made a motion to require that the police chief live in Newtown.

Mrs Mattegat and Mr Pilchard supported the motion, but Mr Simon, Mr Reilly, and Mr Connor opposed it, causing that motion to fail.

 Mr Reilly later said that the residency issue will be a topic when he, Mr Pilchard, Mr Kehoe, and First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal conduct contract negotiations.

Of his appointment, Chief Kehoe later said, “I’m thrilled and I’m excited. They’ve [commission members] shown a lot of faith and trust in me.” Chief Kehoe said he looks forward to serving as police chief.

Newtown Police Union President Robert Koetsch said, “We congratulate him on being made chief of police. We hope that we can have a good working relationship, being that we have known each other for many years… It will be interesting to work with him.”

Captain

While Mr Kehoe served as acting chief, Sergeant Joe Rios served in the capacity of acting captain.

Police Commission members Wednesday created a broad process through which many officers at the police department will be eligible to apply for the post of police captain.

Mr Pilchard asked Chief Kehoe how Mr Rios has done as acting captain. Chief Kehoe responded he has been very pleased with Mr Rios’ performance. “He’s exceeded my expectations. I’m very pleased with his work performance.”

Chief Kehoe, however, acknowledged that Mr Connor had raised a valid point in seeking to broaden the process of selecting a police captain.

The Police Commission can base whom it selects as captain on their merit, said Mrs Mattegat.

Commission members set basic requirements for applicants for the captain’s job based on years of service, supervisory experience, and other factors.

Police Commission members plan to meet June 12 to consider candidates for the captain’s position. Those eligible to apply would include lieutenants, sergeants, detectives, and possibly patrolmen.