Larrabee to Receive 'Distinguished Chief Award' for Accomplishments as East Haven Police Chief

Some good news to start the week on.

Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. announced that East Haven Police Chief Brent Larrabee has been selected by the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut (PCAC) as a recipient of the “2015 Distinguished Chief Award” for his numerous accomplishments as East Haven’s Chief of Police.

Maturo explained in a prepared statement, “Since the time I sought out and hired Brent Larrabee, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the head of East Haven’s Police Department. His accomplishments throughout his career, and especially here in East Haven, demonstrate that he is one of the top law enforcement leaders in the country.”

News of Larrabee’s selection came at the February 24, 2015 meeting of the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners, at which Chairman William Illingworth made the exciting announcement.

Illingworth continued in a prepared statement, “It has truly been a privilege to work alongside Chief Larrabee. While he has numerous professional accomplishments, I truly believe the most impressive is his oversight of the East Haven Police Department under the current United States Department of Justice Settlement Agreement.”

In a letter dated December 12, 2014 to the PCAC, Illingworth touted Larrabee’s career and credited him with making East Haven’s police department a “leader in the region, state and the country.”

In his letter, Illingworth explained, “The Department has become a model to other departments dealing with similar challenges as well as oversight by the Department of Justice. Most recently, Chief Larrabee was asked to provide a presentation at a symposium of police chiefs and other police executives. The presentation was well-received and prompted additional departments to reach out to East Haven for assistance.”

Maturo explained, “Chief Larrabee has brought some innovative ideas to our Police Department. He has had a record of success in a number of other Towns and I credit him for taking those blueprints for success to East Haven and using them to restore faith in our Police Department.”

Larrabee, along with two other recipients, is slated to be honored at a Dinner Meeting of the PCAC on May 27, 2015 at Amarante’s Sea Cliff in New Haven.

Maturo concluded, “I am immensely proud of Larrabee’s leadership since I selected him in 2012 and even more proud of the progress his leadership has inspired in the three short years that he has been here. Chief Larrabee is certainly most deserving of this honor and I know that I, along with representatives of our community, will certainly be attendance when he receives his award.”