http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-chief1nov07,0,3650519.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Eve Sullivan
Staff Writer
November 7, 2004
STAMFORD -- While Louis DeCarlo says heading the Stamford Police Department was the highlight of his career, it won't be what he misses most now that he's off the job.
"I'm probably going to have more withdrawals from not being a police officer than not being the chief," DeCarlo said as he sat outside his office Wednesday afternoon. "For 33 years, I strapped on a firearm and came to work every day."
DeCarlo, 61, who retired as police chief Friday after serving three years as the city's top cop, said he will also miss the camaraderie he shared with the other officers.
"It goes beyond normal working relationships," DeCarlo said. "It's an amazing bond that develops."
When DeCarlo started on the job in 1971, he spent 20 days in the police academy and then was assigned to a foot post. He calls walking the beat as a rookie one of his "favorite times" because he got first-hand experience and developed friendships that lasted throughout his career.
During his first eight years on the job, DeCarlo said officers were working rotating shifts of days, nights and midnights, which was difficult on their bodies as well as their families.
That changed in the late 1970s so officers could work the "two trick" -- a rotation of nights and days -- or the midnight shift.
The 1980s brought about the age of cocaine and increased crime, he said.
"We had significant crime when I first came on," DeCarlo said. "It became really bad in the late 1980s."
In those days, officers were busy going from call to call and were unable to focus on community policing, DeCarlo said. Officers also became frustrated that programs didn't yet exist to assist people in domestic violence situations, he said.
DeCarlo said his most frightening experience on duty occurred when he responded to a domestic violence call, where a woman was pointing a loaded .22-caliber pistol at him. The woman tried to fire, but couldn't get a round off.
"We went in and tried to disarm her and we ended up in quite a struggle," he said.
Through the years, DeCarlo worked his way up the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant and then deputy chief in 1998. As deputy chief, he headed the detective bureau, which he calls his other favorite time on the force.
"I was dealing with intricate crimes," DeCarlo said. "It was rewarding."
Being named chief in 2001 may have been DeCarlo's greatest accomplishment, but it wasn't one he planned on.
"Along the way, you say 'If I were chief,' but I never believed I would achieve that," DeCarlo said. "It was an honor to become chief of this great department."
DeCarlo said he especially feels honored when he thinks there have only been 12 chiefs in the department's 110-year history.
As chief, DeCarlo said he feels he kept things together during a difficult time in the city and nation. But he said a lack of funds stopped him from expanding the department. Funding issues also brought many complaints from the union about training, equipment and personnel issues, he said.
"My relationship with the union went in a direction I wouldn't have preferred," DeCarlo said. "But they have their concerns and I have mine."
DeCarlo's biggest regret while in office was not being able to increase the department's size, he said. His highest point was having Stamford named the fourth-safest city of its size in the country, according to statistics compiled by the FBI.
DeCarlo said he would prefer that his successor be selected from within the department and hoped that person is provided with more manpower and resources.
After all his years on the force, DeCarlo said he feels he is ready for retirement and has no plans to venture into a new career.
"Right now, I want to just enjoy life," he said.
Plans include painting his house, traveling and spending time with the two grandchildren he has on the way.
DeCarlo, who was raised in Stamford and moved back to the city in 1965, said his career allowed him to meet a lot of wonderful people in Stamford.
"I like to consider a lot of people here friends, not just in the department but in the community," he said.
As DeCarlo stood up from his chair, he said he will miss being a police officer and coming to work each day. He said he would like to thank all the members of the force.
"It's a great department," he said softly. "It's really been an honor."
Copyright © 2004, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.