DeCarlo: A thinking man's cop

07/27/2007

By Rod Meehan , Staff writer

Appointment as chief is highlight of career spanning almost 30 years

At the end of this month, Police Chief Robert W. Gill will close out his distinguished career with Branford's finest. At that time, on Aug. 1, Gill's Deputy Chief John C. DeCarlo will assume official leadership of the department.
DeCarlo's appointment caps a 29-year career with the Branford Police Department, which began as a part-time patrol officer in 1977. The chief-designate resides in Branford with his wife Catherine Sullivan DeCarlo, director of communications for the City of New Haven, and their 13-year-old son, Evan.
With the advent of DeCarlo, the Branford Police Department has acquired a thinking man's cop. Throughout his whole career, DeCarlo has straddled the academic community, either as student or as teacher.
"I go to school and teach, and work here," says DeCarlo, succinctly summing up the thread all through his police career.
In 1978, DeCarlo joined the police department full-time. Shortly after, he started training with the State Bureau of Identification, becoming a finger print expert.
DeCarlo also attended the University of New Haven studying forensics under the legendary scientific investigator Dr. Henry Lee (of O.J. Simpson and Jon Benet Ramsey fame, to mention only two cases).
DeCarlo achieved certification as a crime scene technician, and in 1981 was promoted to the Branford Police Department's detective division. Additionally, the scholarly detective began a secondary career, teaching courses in criminology. Not long after, DeCarlo was introduced to the world of the FBI.
"In 1983, the town sent me to Quantico, Virginia, to advanced latent fingerprint school," says DeCarlo, referring to the world-renowned FBI training institute portrayed in the film, The Silence of the Lambs.
Three years later, Det. DeCarlo shifted gears again within the Branford Police Department. "In 1986 I made Patrol Sergeant, and was a patrol supervisor," says DeCarlo. "In 1987, I transferred to the Chief's staff."
The next phase saw DeCarlo continue his eclectic career path with the FBI, performing temporary service for the bureau in 1988. Subsequently, the roving officer was smitten by the seven-year itch.
"In '95 I made lieutenant, and headed up the IT Department," DeCarlo says. His sojourn into computer technology segued into a private, sideline enterprise.
"I started a software company in 1998," DeCarlo says.
Although the company gained momentum, it was superseded by his appointment as Deputy Chief by Gill. Nevertheless, DeCarlo's retained his thirst for knowledge.
In late 2005, the deputy chief received his master's degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University. "I got accepted to the doctoral program in criminal justice at the City University of New York (CUNY)," says DeCarlo, who continues to dedicate his time to transmitting knowledge.
"I teach classes at John Jay in New York City, and Charter Oak State College in New Britain," says DeCarlo.
The new chief's affinity for education does not supersede his persona as a law enforcement official. DeCarlo is firmly of the opinion that some criminals, especially perpetrators of violent crimes, can only be deterred by arrest and incarceration. Short of that, however, he is an advocate of community policing strategies.
"My big thing in policing is just not to react to crime, but be proactive in the community," DeCarlo says.
"People look at the police department as the front door of the criminal justice system, and parole boards as the back door," he says.
It is in that critical middle ground that DeCarlo sees opportunity to intervene effectively.
"My love is a police methodology called problem-oriented policing, a method utilizing other community services for intervention," says DeCarlo.
He mentions the effective social work performed by the Branford Counseling Center under the direction of Pat Andriole as an example.
"Branford is a supportive community in this regard," he says.
The challenge for problem-oriented policing, as DeCarlo sees it, is to apply the methodology to address violent crimes.
"Working with academics, and other community resources is vital," he says.
The seasoned police professional cites two academics in the field of criminology he respects, Travis Hershi and Fred Gottfredson. In 1990, the two collaborated on a treatise, A General Theory of Crime.
Two basic tenets of the theory were that, "weak social bonds may set an individual free to weigh the benefits of crime," and, "parenting is the most important factor in preventing crime."
The scholarly chief designate is aware of two hard truths; that mere affluence does not equate to good parenting, and that, under its respectable surface, Branford has a significant drug problem.
Among the adolescent population, the problem extends beyond the term "recreational," and encompasses highly addictive prescription drugs. Starting with parents, the whole community, as DeCarlo sees it, must embrace the problem in order to salvage adolescents from the myriad pitfalls of experimentation.
"Our enforcement duties on that are obvious," DeCarlo says. "It is getting those drugs off the street by working with politicians to stop the flow and manufacture of those drugs. We must work with other resources for effective intervention."
As the baton is passed to John DeCarlo next month, Lt. Thomas Fowler will assist him, assuming the position of deputy chief. On the eve of his appointment, a grateful DeCarlo expressed his sentiments:
"I really look forward to leading the officers of the Branford Police Department, whom I consider the best in the state."