Stamford Police Chief Announces Retirement

STAMFORD, CT — After 38 years with the department, the last seven in the top post, Stamford Police Chief Jon Fontneau announced late last week he will be retiring on or about May 1. A national search for a replacement is underway, according to city officials.

"Stamford’s community is very fortunate to have had Chief Fontneau as their Police Chief," said Mayor David Martin in a statement. "He is a professional who brought significant improvements to our police force and a strong leader who’s respected both inside the department, and outside in our diverse community. He has respected the challenges confronting the police department in our era."

Fontneau, a 62-year-old Stamford native who was appointed to the position in October 2012, was the city's 15th police chief and received the Distinguished Chief Award in 2015 from the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut.

"I have truly been blessed to have been given this opportunity to have served the City of Stamford as its police chief for the past several years," said Fontneau in a message to the members of the department. "I have worked alongside such wonderful, dedicated professional police officers that risk their own safety day in, day out to keep the rest of us safe."

Among his accomplishments, Fontneau is credited with not only modernizing the department with officer body cameras, but also with implementing the tips line and improved surveillance equipment throughout the city.

Additionally, the Coffee with a Cop and other community policing initiatives were launched during his tenure.

"Chief Fontneau is a man of honor and integrity who has dedicated his life to law enforcement, the department and the Stamford community for more than 38 years," said Director of Public Safety Thaddeus Jankowski. "He has demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout his career. His experience, leadership and dedication are impeccable. As Chief, his community policing strategies have kept Stamford a safe place to live and the Stamford Police Department as one of the best in the nation. He is a man of character, committed to trust and accountability. He is a true public servant and a great leader – a Chief who truly cares about the members of the department and the community that he has sworn to protect. He is someone who has a great love for the Stamford community and is highly respected throughout law enforcement. It is no accident that the City of Stamford is one of the safest cities in the United States. His leadership will be deeply missed by me, the department and the Stamford community. I thank him for his years of professionalism and hard work – I wish him the best in retirement."

A search committee for Fontneau's replacement has been formed, which includes Jankowski, Stamford Police Commission Chair Tim Abbazia, Jack Bryant, president of the Stamford chapter of the NAACP, and others, writes the Stamford Advocate.

Photo credit: City of Stamford

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