Assistant Police Chief Named Stamford's New Public Safety Director

STAMFORD, CT — Mayor Caroline Simmons announced on Thursday that she has appointed Louis DeRubeis as Stamford's new director of public safety, health and welfare.

DeRubeis is currently an assistant police chief with the Stamford Police Department, and will take over for outgoing public safety director Ted Jankowski, who announced in June he would be stepping down.

DeRubeis will begin as acting director effective Sept. 6, at which time his name will be submitted to the Board of Representatives for consideration and approval. The Board of Reps. will vote on the appointment at their Oct. 3 meeting.

"I am excited for the opportunity to serve the city of Stamford in this new capacity," DeRubeis said in a news release from the city Thursday. "I am very proud of the work I did with the Stamford Police Department, and I look forward to continuing to work and collaborate with my colleagues in law enforcement, Mayor Simmons, and the leadership and staff of the city’s public safety and health departments to ensure the safety and well-being of all Stamford residents."

DeRubeis has been with the SPD since 1997, where he started as a patrol officer. He then served as a sergeant from 2005 to 2018 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2018.

As a lieutenant, DeRubeis worked as a patrol shift commander and the director of the training division. He has served as assistant chief of police since June 2021.

The city noted that DeRubeis obtained a master’s degree in leadership and strategic management from Manhattanville College and is a recent graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy - session No. 282.

Highlights and accomplishments of DeRubeis' tenure with the SPD include:

• Conceptualizing and overseeing the implementation of the Stamford Police Department Emergency Critical Incident Response Card Program.
• Initiating and managing the acquisition of medical equipment and officer training of the Stamford Police Emergency Trauma project for all Stamford police officers.
• Managing the implementation of all new Stamford police policy and procedures and overseeing the state of Connecticut police accreditation for the department.
• Served as the Stamford Bomb Squad Commander from 2007 to 2021.

Simmons touted DeRubeis' experience, and said she's "excited" to announce his appointment.

"Lou brings 25 years of law enforcement experience, with expertise in emergency response management, community policing and cross departmental collaboration," Simmons said in a news release. "I am confident that the skillset and expertise he brings to this role will ensure our city is well prepared with the policies and protocols in place to promote the health, safety and well-being of Stamford residents."

Simmons also announced that the Rev. Winton Hill will join her administration as a public safety liaison. The role is focused on community outreach and engagement and will work directly with the director of public safety to identify solutions to public safety concerns and strengthen community relationships, the city said.

"Community engagement and outreach is a critical pillar to public safety," Hill said in a news release. "I believe we have a unique opportunity to strengthen communication between the city and the community, build relationships and better share the story of public safety in Stamford and what that means for residents. I know this aligns with Mayor Simmons’s priorities and I look forward to working with her and Director of Public Safety DeRubeis on advancing these goals."

In addition to being a pastor in AME churches, Hill has served as a university pastor, a VA hospital chaplain and a chaplain in the U.S. Army.