New Police Chief Appointed In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden native Edward Page Reynolds has been appointed as the town’s next police chief, Mayor Lauren Garrett announced Tuesday.

Reynolds will succeed Acting Police Chief Timothy F. Wydra, pending the approval of the Legislative Council and State of Connecticut certification, according to Garrett.

Reynolds, a Hamden High School graduate, served more than 14 years with the New Haven Police Department.

“Hamden native Edward Page Reynolds has a distinguished career spanning nearly 30 years in criminal justice and law enforcement, bringing a wealth of experience back to the town where he grew up, making him intimately familiar with the fabric of the community,” according to a statement from Garret’s Office. “Edward Page Reynolds is a strong advocate of community-based policing and has implemented community policing policies in the departments where he has served. Community policing initiatives are most effective when police officers can relate to the community members they serve. The appointment of Edward Page Reynolds will make history as the first Black Chief of Police in the Town of Hamden. Edward Page Reynolds will continue our progress to make Hamden a safe and vibrant place to live.”

Garrett announced Monday that Wydra was retiring after 30 years with the Hamden Police Department, including the past 15 months as acting chief.

The New Haven Register reports Wydra was recently notified by Garrett that he wouldn’t be getting the permanent job, and was offered to return to his former role as deputy police chief but declined.

Wydra told the Register that the “only realistic option was to retire” as acting chief.

Read more from the mayor’s office, including Reynolds’ background and a statement from the Police Chief Search Committee, below:

Edward Page Reynolds graduated from Hamden High School and received his Master of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport. He further went on to complete the Police Chief Executive Development Program at the Criminal Justice Institute, University of Arkansas as well as the Arkansas Leader Program out of the Arkansas Leader FBI Command College through the University of Arkansas System Criminal Justice Institute.

Edward Page Reynolds began his law enforcement career with the New Haven Police Department where he served as Lead Homicide Detectives/Major Crimes and Hostage Negotiator and supervised multiple agencies and services such as social services, mental health services, law enforcement, and other government agencies. Edward Page Reynolds also assisted the State Attorney’s office and successfully built rapport with individuals and groups under extremely volatile conditions.

After serving over 14 years with the New Haven Police Department, Edward Page Reynolds served the Wilton, Maine Police Department for two years, initially as Assistant Chief/Detective Lieutenant and then as Police Chief. During his time in Wilton, Edward Page Reynolds assisted with the overall management of the Department, including management of facility and staff and developing policies, procedures, and the annual budget.

For over six years, Edward Page Reynolds served as Police Chief for the Forrest City, Arkansas Police Department, and then served as the Chief of Police for HBCU Southern University at Shreveport in Louisiana for nearly six years. In both roles, Edward Page Reynolds was responsible for Department operations and personnel, management of the Department budget, and community involvement and outreach. He provided a high level of leadership, management, and team building skills, updated operational standards, policies, and procedures, and established new recruiting methods and training programs. In Forrest City, Arkansas, he prepared and managed a multi-million-dollar annual budget, including the administration and oversight of several units, and at Southern University at Shreveport, he served as Director of Emergency Management.

Statement by the Police Chief Search Committee:

Established one year ago, the Hamden Police Chief Search Committee embarked on a mission to discern the ideal candidate to steer our esteemed police force. We are delighted to share the successful culmination of our extensive quest to identify the next leader of the Hamden Police Department. We are pleased to provide a concise overview of our meticulous process for your convenience.

Our journey commenced with the formulation of a comprehensive job description tailored to attract top-tier candidates. In a concerted effort to ensure community involvement, we hosted multiple input sessions, actively seeking the insights and expectations of our residents regarding the attributes and qualities they wished to see in a police chief. Simultaneously, we fastidiously crafted a set of interview questions and a scoring rubric to guarantee impartial and consistent candidate evaluation.

Following the completion of these initial tasks, our committee dedicated substantial time to scrutinizing the resumes, cover letters, and applications of nearly 20 applicants. Subsequently, we invested over 22 hours conducting thorough candidate interviews. This was complemented by an additional 15 hours spent in rigorous deliberations and comprehensive vetting over several months. Our unwavering commitment to this thorough and exhaustive process epitomized our resolve to select the most deserving candidate for this vital role.

It is with immense pleasure that we announce our committee's unanimous decision. After a meticulous examination and a thorough assessment, we have identified Mr. Edward Page Reynolds as the individual who possesses the essential qualities, knowledge, experience, and requisite skills to serve as the next Chief of Police for the Hamden Police Department.

Mr. Reynolds not only boasts a distinguished career with the New Haven Police Department but also holds the distinction of being a graduate of Hamden High School. His remarkable 16-year tenure as Chief of Police across diverse departments has endowed him with invaluable expertise. His experience in urban, suburban, rural, and collegiate communities provides him with a distinctive perspective that will be invaluable in effectively leading our Police Department.

We are confident that Mr. Reynolds will bring the leadership and vision required to sustain and elevate the safety and security of our community.

As the Hamden Police Chief Search Committee, we have hereby submitted our recommendation to Mayor Lauren Garrett for her consideration.