Several Hartford Police sources are telling me that a new Assistant Police Chief should be named at HPD soon. Apparently Chief Thody has informed some, including his Commanders at a recent Compstat meeting, that he has selected an African American male, who is also an attorney, to be brought into the number 2 slot.
Assistant Chief Ralph Medina, a retired State Trooper, was brought in as an Assistant Chief under former Chief David Rosado, also a retired Trooper. It is unclear whether Thody is planning on replacing Medina or filling a second Assistant Chief slot.
A second Assistant Chief spot has not been filled for several years.
Word is that Thody has selected retired New Haven Police Lieutenant Kenny Howell , an African American male, to fill the slot. Howell served 21 years with the New Haven Police Department before his retirement. Howell was then selected as Police Chief in Millbury Massachusetts until 2015 when his contract was abruptly ended and not renewed for unknown reasons.
In media reports, Howell claimed it was for "ruffling feathers" in the troubled Department.
If Howell is actually appointed Assistant Chief in Hartford, only time will tell if "ruffling feathers" will be an appreciated and needed skill for his career survival here. Apparently, Howell may not currently be a certified Police Officer and may require some additional training to re-gain his certification.
No confirmation from HPD on this yet.
