Mayor Announces Nominee For Stamford's Next Police Chief

STAMFORD, CT — Mayor David Martin announced Thursday evening he has appointed Easton Chief of Police Timothy Shaw as his nominee for the city's next police chief. The announcement was made in Martin's packed conference room before a crowd of nearly 50 people, comprised of commissioners, officers and other city officials.

Shaw previously served as an officer for the Stamford Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to assistant chief over a 28-year career in the department. In 2015, Shaw moved to Easton in order to be closer to his family.

"I am very proud to invite Chief Shaw back to our city as Stamford's next police chief," Martin said in a subsequent prepared statement. "My priorities for selecting this position were to pick a candidate who could build off of the accomplishments of [former] Police Chief Jonathan Fontneau, but also bring new ideas to the department and modernize our police force. I believe Shaw's experience in Easton has given him vital experience and provided him ideas on how to improve our department. I look forward to his return to Stamford."

Martin's appointment of Shaw still must be confirmed by the city's Board of Representatives. A vote is scheduled to take place on March 2 during the board's regular meeting.

Martin thanked both Fontneau and Acting Police Chief Thomas Wuennemann for all their hard work in leading the department to where it is today. He also elaborated on his decision to appoint Shaw, citing his ability to bring both an inside and outside perspective to the department.

"I believe [Shaw] is a man who is well-respected, and a man of integrity," Martin said during his announcement. "He has earned the respect of everyone he's worked with...his honor is unquestionable, and he fully understands the weight and responsibility that comes with leadership of a department like ours."

Following the announcement, Shaw thanked Martin and Director of Public Safety Ted Jankowski, as well as the commissioners and board members present for their support, calling his return to Stamford a "dream come true."

"I learned a lot in Easton; I'm going to miss it," Shaw said to Patch. "I thought it was a great stepping stone for me. Having this opportunity [in Stamford]...I'm really looking forward to meeting the community and really getting out there. People know me well enough from my time here. I'll be out there."

Shaw said he wants officers to "get out into the community" more than ever have before and give resident a chance to "see the officer outside of the call."

"If there's a baseball game, go take a look and hang out by the fence," Shaw said. "Talk to some parents and see what their thoughts are right now. I think you'll get a lot more information from there, and a lot more acceptance."

He also said his favorite thing about Stamford is its diversity and the amount it has grown in just the five years since he's been gone.

"This city has just grown leaps and bounds," Shaw said. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to getting back into the mix."

Shaw's Qualifications

Martin said he appointed Shaw after considering six different candidates for a number of months. Each candidate underwent a roughly two-hour interview, and some candidates, including Shaw, were interviewed a second time.

During his time as Stamford's assistant chief, Shaw managed over 150 officers, recommended budget and personnel decisions and initiated a multicultural coalition between officers and community groups. He also oversaw the department's entire investigation division and various administrative personnel.

As Easton's police chief, Shaw testified for the state's public safety commission to change language regarding a dash camera grant.

"This testimony was vital to changing a law's text, which provided Easton 100 percent reimbursement for new dash cameras," Martin said in a statement.

In 2018, Shaw received the Distinguished Chief's Award from the Connecticut Police Commissioners. The following year, he was awarded by state police for leading the response to a double murder investigation, resulting in the arrest and conviction of a culprit and accomplice, Martin said.

He was also nominated last year to serve on the Connecticut Chiefs of Police Association's board of directors.

A Lengthy Selection Process

If selected, Shaw will step into the role following a roller coaster of a selection process that began last year when Fontneau announced he would retire. Wuennemann was named interim chief on July 3.

In June, Martin announced Chris Murtha, the Deputy Chief for Maryland's Prince George's County Police Department, as his nomination to replace Fontneau.

Though Martin cited Murtha's "credentialed resume, strong relations with community leaders and consistent professionalism throughout the hiring process" as reasons he was considered an ideal candidate to lead the department, some representatives and members of the public took issue with the nomination, largely due to Murtha's department being involved in a civil lawsuit.

According to the Stamford Advocate, some Prince George's County officers alleged in a suit that four commanders showed racial bias in regards to promotions, work hours and other issues. Murtha had been named in the suit among other commanders, however the United States District Court of the District of Maryland eventually dismissed all claims against him from the lawsuit on in July.

In August, the Board of Representatives voted to reject Martin's nomination of Murtha by a tally of 23-15 with one abstention. Many representatives said they had received a number of calls from residents and even some Stamford Police officers leading up to the vote, some in opposition and some in support of Murtha.

See also: Police Chief Nominee Rejected By Stamford Board Of Reps

• Search For New Stamford Police Chief To Continue, Mayor Says

Following the rejection, Martin said the city would search for another candidate, though he still made a point to speak highly of Murtha and his qualifications, wishing him well as he continued his law enforcement career.