Hartford appoints acting police chief

As Hartford continues its search for a new chief for its police department, the city has appointed an interim deputy police chief.

Mayor Arunan Arulampalam announced that Deputy Police Chief Kenny Howell will take over the top job after outgoing Police Chief Jason Thody announced his resignation in March. Howell will remain in the post until a new police chief is found, according to Cristian Corza, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff.

Appointed police chief in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Thody faced several challenges during his tenure, including waves of violent crime and staffing shortages. His tenure, which drew controversy early on, also saw constant clashes with the city’s police union. During a surprise press conference announcing his resignation earlier this year, Thody said he would stay until a successor was found.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve my city as Chief of Police,” Thody said. “I began my career in Hartford in 1996 as a police cadet and climbed the career ladder until my appointment as Chief of Police in 2020. For the past four years, it has been a privilege to serve our residents and the City of Hartford, and I am fortunate to have played a role in shaping the future of our department.”

Howell, a longtime police officer, began his career in law enforcement in 1991 as a police recruit with the New Haven Police Department. He served there until his retirement in 2013. He also has experience in various leadership positions, including as the former police chief of Millbury, Massachusetts, where he served for three years.

“I am grateful to Mayor Arulampalam for the opportunity to serve under his administration and continue the work of HPD for the benefit of the people of Hartford,” Howell said in a press release. “I look forward to working with the Mayor and HPD to hit the ground running as Acting Chief of Police and continue to provide the important services our citizens need.”

Howell was sworn in as a member of the Hartford Police Department on December 21, 2020. He currently oversees four bureaus in the department, including patrol services, administrative services, professional standards and investigative services, according to a city press release. The city said he was appointed because he is known as a strong advocate for building trust and developing meaningful relationships through community policing.

“I am grateful for Chief Thody’s commitment to HPD and his work helping the city during this transition,” said Arulampalam. “My administration is working closely with HPD and Assistant Chief Howell to ensure a smooth transition as we continue to seek the community’s input on public safety priorities.”

The city said there is no set timeline for finding a permanent replacement and the process could take several months. To make the selection process more inclusive, the city held hearings with residents back in May.

But the process has already come under fire from activists in the city. Some city and Black Lives Matter activists have said the administration targeted a veteran black police lieutenant and excluded him from the race for police chief. Former Hartford NAACP President Ula Dodson said Arulampalam should step in and appoint the officer to head the city’s police force.

According to the city charter, the mayor appoints a new police chief. The city council has 60 days to vote on the nomination. A proposed candidate for the position can remain acting police chief until he or she is officially sworn in by the council.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at [email protected]