Hamden Police Department Fully Staffed For First Time In A Decade

Press release from Town of Hamden:

HAMDEN, CT — Mayor Lauren Garrett and Chief of Police Edward Page Reynolds announced that for the first time in a decade, the Hamden Police Department has a full roster.

As of July 15, the Hamden Police Department is fully staffed with 103 filled and budgeted positions. The Hamden Police Department was last fully staffed in FY 2014-2015. Since December 22, 2021, 41 police officers have been hired by Mayor Garrett’s administration.

The Hamden Police Department held a swearing-in ceremony July 19 at Memorial Town Hall for its four newest hires.

“We are pleased to announce that the Hamden Police Department has reached its full staffing level with 103 sworn officers, following the recent hiring of four new officers," Page Reynolds said. "These highly qualified individuals will begin their training at the police academy on August 1, 2024. Also, three additional officers have been enrolled in the police academy since April 26, 2024, with an expected graduation in the fall of 2024. These additions to our team will enhance our ability to serve and protect our community. We look forward to their contributions and dedication to our department.”

Garrett said, “While many communities have experienced difficulty in hiring within public safety, our Hamden Police Department has increased recruitment and removed barriers that limited hiring. Our Human Resources Department, Civil Service Commission, and Police Commission have worked to hire great candidates as Entry Level Officers. New hires will attend the Police Academy and complete field training in Hamden, giving Hamden more agency over the training of our officers. I appreciate the work that has gone into achieving this milestone. I am encouraged that with additional officers on the streets, we now have the ability to more appropriately staff divisions within the Police Department, including the traffic division."

This press release was produced by Town of Hamden. The views expressed here are the author’s own.