Police chief to retire next year

12/17/2006

By: Rod Meehan

BRANFORD - Police Chief Robert W. Gill, who has served eight years as the guiding light of the Branford police department, has announced plans to retire next year.

Gill plans to answer his final roll call on July 1, 2007, after a distinguished 42-year career of protecting the community.

Anyone who knew and interacted with Chief Gill realized that, in a difficult job, he placed integrity as high on his personal list as he did for his department in general. He spent as much energy protecting and leading his "thin blue line" as he did the citizens of Branford.

Born and bred in Branford, Gill began his police career while serving in the military in Korea from 1953 to 1955. Upon discharge, Gill returned to his previous employment at the Malleable Fittings Company, as a machinist performing foundry work. After two years, the chief realized he had another calling and joined the Branford Police Department as a part-time patrol officer.

In 1964, Gill became a full-time patrol officer in the department. His star began to rise in 1967, when Police Commission chairman of the board William Lynch developed a program to allow police officers to enter the Criminal Justice Program offered at the University of New Haven.

After completing his studies, Gill passed the exam that qualified him to be promoted to sergeant. In 1975, he passed the necessary exams to be promoted to lieutenant, a rank he held until 1978.

Because of his service experience, and taking full advantage of the available educational opportunities offered, Gill's advancement through the ranks had been rapid. For the next 20 years, however, Gill held the position of assistant chief under Chief William Hallohan.
In 1998, at age 65, Gill was appointed chief of the department. At that point, he said, retirement was out of the question. "It was a long time getting here, so I stayed to do some of the things that I wanted to do with the department," said Gill.

The chief lists his administrative accomplishments with pride: securing grants for his department, providing new and innovative equipment to enhance the BPD's effectiveness, and effective use of arrest forfeiture funds to help defray the costs of his initiatives and save the town money.

Having attained his position the old-fashioned way, coming up through the ranks, Gill is gracious in giving credit where credit is due.

"In my time here as chief, I have had two great administrative assistants to help me, Isabel Miller and my present assistant, Beverly Cooke," said Gill. The chief also reserves professional praise for his staff of detectives.

When Chief Gill finally turns the lights out for the last time in July, he will be 74. He said his plans are somewhat vague, at this point. Enjoying travel is on his list of things to do, and working on projects around his home.

One certainty is that, according to the chief, he will not be returning to work at the Malleable Fitting Co., or any other company, for that matter, he said with a laugh. Whatever Chief Robert Gill chooses to do with his well-earned free time, he leaves with the gratitude of a grateful community.