http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-chief1dec10,0,1688995.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Zach Lowe
Staff Writer
December 10, 2004
STAMFORD -- Mayor Dannel Malloy introduced Brent Larrabee as the city's new police chief yesterday, saying the former Framingham, Mass., chief was the right person to re-establish community policing and guide the department through next year's contract negotiations.
"He's an outstanding career officer," Malloy said. "We heard nothing but rave reviews from his colleagues."
The Board of Representatives is expected to approve Malloy's choice at a Jan. 3 meeting, and Larrabee will begin work as chief Jan. 10, Malloy said.
Deputy Chief Frank Lagan will continue to head the department until then.
Larrabee was the Framingham chief from 1987 through 2001, holding every rank in the department after starting as a patrol officer in 1972.
His colleagues, including Steven Carl, who replaced him as Framingham's chief, said Larrabee was a pioneer in forging close bonds between the police and the community. He had officers teach classes on domestic violence in Framingham's high schools, and he set up athletic leagues that linked officers and residents of public housing.
Larrabee's commitment to community policing was a key factor in his hiring, Malloy said.
"We've had some difficult economic times across the state, and our community policing efforts have been reduced," Malloy said. "It's created problems in the department, and I think the rank and file has not been happy with the results."
Larrabee said he would like to try some of the programs he used in Framingham, particularly those involving schools, but he would not discuss specific initiatives yesterday.
"I have to rely on the officers and the community to give me a sense of what is needed," Larrabee said.
After leaving Framingham, Larrabee served as interim chief of the Westwood, Mass., Police Department and did consulting work with the Providence, R.I., department, currently headed by former Stamford Chief Dean Esserman.
Larrabee said yesterday he has known Esserman for more than 15 years, and that Esserman called his home in Florida five months ago to encourage him to apply.
"He really coaxed me," Larrabee said.
"You're not the only one he coaxed," Malloy joked.
Malloy has said eight of the nine finalists had personal or professional connections with Esserman.
Larrabee expressed optimism about the upcoming contract negotiations with the police union. Negotiations are expected to be contentious, with the union requesting several specialty units and equipment upgrades.
Larrabee sat on both sides of the negotiation during his years in Framingham, serving as president of the Framingham Police Association before becoming chief.
"There's no issue I haven't seen before," he said after the news conference. "Everything gets resolved sooner or later."
"It might as well be sooner," joked Officer Michael Merenda, president of the Stamford Police Association.
Larrabee said providing officers with up-to-date equipment has always been his "No. 1 issue," but that any upgrades "will have to be defined within the budget process."
Merenda said Larrabee came across as a "gentleman" who could relate to the rank and file.
"I really like that he understands what the average police officer goes through on the street," Merenda said. "I'm confident he will be fair."
Larrabee addressed a group of officers yesterday afternoon, Merenda said.
Larrabee told them about his friendship with Esserman and said he hoped to get to know every officer's first name, Merenda said.
As an out-of-state hire, Larrabee will have to complete a series of courses on state criminal and juvenile law before gaining full certification, said Anthony Salvatore Sr., chairman of the state's Police Standards and Training Council, the group that certifies all police officers in the state.
As an experienced police executive, he will not have to complete the full 20-week police academy training program.
Had he been away from active police duty for more than two years, Larrabee would have had to go through the entire program, Salvatore said.
Larrabee said early signs from the Training Council indicate that his work as interim police chief in Westwood in 2003 counts as full-time police work, making him eligible for a speedy certification.
Dennis Murphy, the city's human resources director, said Larrabee can take the classes while he works as chief.
Larrabee said he is excited to end what he admitted was not exactly a traditional "retirement" from police work.
"I'm nervous and thrilled," he said. "I never retired; I just changed jobs."
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