New Haven Register - News - 08/03/2007 - Week of appreciation and promise for Branford police

08/03/2007

Week of appreciation and promise for Branford police

Mark Zaretsky , Register Staff

BRANFORD — This is a week of changes in the Police Department: new Chief of Police John C. DeCarlo, 55, took the oath of office Thursday, just two days after retiring Chief Robert W. Gill was saluted by two lines of officers as he walked out of police headquarters in uniform for the last time, capping a police career that spanned 44 years. DeCarlo, a 30-year veteran, began his tenure as the 10th chief by asking, "Isn't Branford a great town?" and, later, by saluting the men and women in blue who work with him. He called them the equals of national law enforcement leaders he has met in outside police work seminars, including a recent one at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

One common thread is that "people that become police officers want to help people and they want to effect social change," he said. "I just want to continue that good work for the people," he said, pointing out that "a department is not a chief and 50 helpers. It's a chief and 50 partners."

"I hope I can be as good a chief as the former chief, as the chiefs that preceded me," DeCarlo told a crowd that included a mentor, Gill's predecessor, former Chief William F. Holohan, under whom DeCarlo worked for much of his career.

He thanked the Board of Police Commissioners for their faith and said, "I will never forget it and I will never let you down."

Board of Police Commissioners Chairwoman Joanne McGuigan administered the oath of office to DeCarlo. Then DeCarlo's wife, Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, pinned his gold chief's badge on his chest as their son, Evan, 13, looked on.

Gill did not attend. Reached at home beforehand, he predicted that DeCarlo "will do an excellent job. He's obviously a very intelligent and academic person," Gill said. He also called new Deputy Chief Thomas Fowler "a very good choice." He said, "I think he'll be outstanding."

As for Gill, who broke ground throughout his career, including when he became the first black chief of any Greater New Haven police department other than New Haven, "I really will find out what a lot of people have told me: that there is life after retirement," he said, "and I really intend to enjoy that life."

McGuigan and First Selectwoman Cheryl Morris both also called DeCarlo a good choice as chief. "Today is a proud moment not only for John and his family but for the town of Branford," said Morris.

DeCarlo's "years of experience and education have prepared you well," she said. "You have the best police department in the state of Connecticut and your team is going to help you."

McGuigan said that "by weighing what's best for the community, we were unanimous in choosing John DeCarlo. ... It's often said that the best leaders come from within and this is especially true in the case of John DeCarlo. ... He truly is the right man for the job of chief."

DeCarlo said the department's send-off to Gill, organized by Lt. Mike Carasone, among others, "was very touching." DeCarlo said Gill seemed to be enjoying retirement so far. "I talked to him yesterday and said, ‘How was your first day?'"

Gill answered, "‘Probably better than yours!" DeCarlo said.

Gill, 74, called his send-off "really something, because I had no idea what was up. I knew they were going to do something but I didn't know what. I thought they were going to have a small cake ... in the rec room."

But he was awed when his wife, Dorothy, two grown children, John Gill and Roberta Wiggins, and grandchildren joined him to leave at noon and he walked out into the lobby "and I saw all this formation and everyone there."

In addition to Branford officers, Gill saw East Haven Chief of Police Leonard Gallo, among others, there to show respect. "It was a beautiful thing — far more than I had expected — and I really appreciate what they did for me," he said.

DeCarlo and Fowler actually assumed their new positions at midnight Wednesday and DeCarlo went right to work, coming in to address the midnight roll call.

Gill will be honored Aug. 23 with a dinner at the Woodwinds in Branford, beginning with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. Tickets are $70 and can be purchased by calling the Police Department at 481-4241. The ticket price includes a one-hour open bar, hors d'oeuvres, choice of dinner and a contribution toward a gift.

Committee members include Detective Ron Washington, Carasone, Detective Lt. Bill Carroll, Beverly Cooke and Pat Andriole of the Branford Counseling Center. Washington, who grew up next door to Gill and has known him for 50 of Washington's 52 years, said the former chief deserves any accolades he gets.

He called it "unbelievable" that Gill "put in 40-something years in law enforcement. ... The thought was, here's someone who put in that kind of time, they deserve something special," Washington said.

"I've known the man 50 years of my life" and "I have to say I've never met anyone else like him in my life," he said.

Gill began work as a Branford police officer in 1962 as a part-time supernumerary. He joined the force full time in 1964 and served over the years as patrol officer, patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant and deputy chief for 20 years before becoming chief March 28, 1998.

Mark Zaretsky can be reached at mzaretsky@nhregister.com or 789-5722.