Milford Police Commission Seeks Raise For Chief, Deputy Chief

MILFORD, CT — Members of the city Police Commission urged the Board of Aldermen to increase the salaries of Milford’s police chief and deputy police chief in order to keep their pay competitive with other departments.

Chief Keith Mello earns about $125,000 in base pay and Deputy Chief Brian Rojee earns about $110,000. The average base compensation in Connecticut for a chief is about $146,800 and a deputy chief earns $126,000, Police Commission Chair Richard Smith said at a Board of Aldermen budget meeting.

Mello has a good reputation within the police department and city, but it also extends to the state and beyond, Smith said.

“Connecticut legislators seek him out while crafting police related legislation,” Smith said. “Ask anyone, including the governor, and they will tell you how valuable Chief Mello's input in leadership has been.”

Mello also receives a pension from the city. He effectively retired in 2010, but continued to be police chief. Smith argued that the move saves money since the city doesn’t have to pay into a pension account for a new chief, and it also saves on health care costs.

Board of Education Chair Susan Glennon also voiced support for Mello

“Milford Public Schools has an incredible relationship with our police department, which is I think, a reflection of Chief Mello’s support, his responsiveness to the school district's needs,” she said. “And I think it's a very, very, very important partnership that I would hate to see diminished if the leadership of the police department were to change.”