Kalamaras Sworn In As Fairfield Police Chief

FAIRFIELD, CT — Capt. Robert Kalamaras is now officially Chief Robert Kalamaras.

A 21-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, Kalamaras was sworn in to the new role during a ceremony Friday at Penfield Pavilion.

"I am humbled and honored to have been entrusted with the job of leading the Fairfield Police Department into the future," Kalamaras said in a department news release. "It is a task I do not take lightly, but it is one I know I can achieve by working hand-in-hand with the men and women of the department, with town leadership and with the members of the community."

Kalamaras takes over the position following the retirement of Chief Christopher Lyddy, who had a 38-year career in law enforcement.

In his new role, Kalamaras will work to continue to strengthen the trust between the department and the residents it serves by building and maintaining accountability and transparency and ensuring Fairfield's officers are ambassadors for peace, justice and tolerance in the community, according to the news release.

"I pledge to do everything I can to make this department a model of openness, fairness and inclusivity that reflects the needs of all residents," he said in the news release. "We know we cannot do this alone, and we will welcome discussions with our residents and community organizations so that we can all work together toward the common goal of making Fairfield a better, safer place to live and work."

Kalamaras also plans to strengthen recruitment efforts and explore the latest and most encompassing training opportunities to ensure officers have the tools and resources needed to embody the values and ideals of a 21st century police officer.

"Bob always goes above and beyond to engage with and be responsive to our community," Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in the news release.

"I was pleased to receive the recommendation from the Police Commission and was honored to swear him in today as Fairfield’s new chief of police. Our community is blessed to have someone so committed to Fairfield and I’m confident the men and women of the Fairfield Police Department will benefit greatly from his leadership and years of experience."

Kalamaras was hired by the department as a patrolman, a role he held for 10 years, and which included positions in the motorcycle unit, crash investigations, emergency services unit, dive team and traffic enforcement. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010 and assigned to the Patrol Division. In 2011, he was reassigned as the Special Services Division sergeant, supervising several units.

In 2015, Kalamaras was promoted to lieutenant, and served in the Patrol Division as the evening shift commander. He was reassigned as the commander of the Special Services Division in 2016, supervising the traffic safety, vehicle maintenance, motorcycle and crash investigation units, as well as the Marine Division and marina guards. Additionally, he was the department’s public information officer and coordinated public programs such as neighborhood watch. He has also served for six years as the emergency services unit commander.

Kalamaras was promoted to captain in 2019, serving as the Special Services Bureau commander, and later transferred to command the Field Services Bureau. He is a graduate of the 276th session of the FBI National Academy, which he attended in 2019 in Quantico, Virginia.

Kalamaras holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Sacred Heart University and is a veteran of the armed forces. He is currently the chair of the Safety Circuit Rider Advisory Committee at the Connecticut Technology Transfer Center and has been a member since 2016.