Buturla new police chief

03/09/2007

By: Tristram DeRoma , Bard Editor

Mayor cites Buturla's strong combination of law enforcement, administrative experience as determining factor.

Mayor James Miron announced Thursday that John Buturla will be Stratford's ninth police chief starting March 29. Buturla, who started his career as a Trumbull Police officer in 1979, hoped to do as good a job in the post as his predecessor Michael Imbro, who has been with the Stratford Police Department for 40 years.

Buturla, 47, a Stratford native who graduated from Bunnell High School, said he was glad but "overwhelmed" by the opportunity to come home and be Stratford's next chief of police.

He then spent the rest of his speech praising Imbro and his accomplishments.

"It's an absolutely wonderful department," Buturla said. "I've seen it grow from when it was next to nothing into the department it is today, and that can be directly attributed to Chief Imbro. I hope to continue his efforts; I look forward to building on his successes."

Buturla is currently serving as New Haven's Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor John DeStefano Jr. He currently lives in Roxbury Conn. with his family, and he is the brother of Stratford Town Attorney Richard Buturla. His starting salary will be $97,000 and he will not being drawing health benefits since he is getting them from a previous job, Miron said.

Though Imbro had "mixed feelings" about leaving, Imbro accepted a buyout package from the Mayor in February.

"As many of you know, I had mixed emotions about leaving," Imbro told the audience gathered at the press conference. "But I'm sure John will do an excellent job and carry on."

Mayor Miron said that even though a nationwide search was performed, his administration found it easy to go with a "Stratford boy," given the breadth of his experience in law enforcement as well as municipal administration.

"John Buturla, a Stratford native, has a long and distinguished career in public safety and public service. I am confident his education, training and experience will bring the Stratford Police Department to new heights."

Besides serving as a Trumbull police officer and as New Haven's chief administrative officer, he also served in Connecticut's Homeland Security Office, first as deputy director then as director between 2001 and Jan. 2005.