Assistant West Hartford Police Chief Set to Retire

WEST HARTFORD, CT — On July 17, 2019, thirty-nine years to the day he joined the West Hartford Police Department, Assistant Chief Robert T. McCue will retire.

He was a patrol officer from 1980 to 1985, a detective from 1985 to 1989 and became a sergeant in 1989. He became Detective Lieutenant of the Special Investigations Division in May 1993 and, finally, Assistant Chief of Police in 1996, a position he has held for 23 years.

McCue comes from a long line of family members who have served the town of West Hartford in the public safety sector. His father, Robert Ryan McCue, served from 1954 to 1991, retiring as Chief of Police. His grandfather, Martin McCue, joined the department as a Supernumerary in 1929, became a police officer in 1930, and retired in 1959 as a Detective Lieutenant. McCue’s uncle, James McCue, was a patrol officer from 1955 to 1966. Even his aunt, Alice McCue, now 91, was an auxiliary patrol officer during World War II for the police department, making her the first woman to join the force. Her job was to be on the lookout for enemy planes from her perch on top of Town Hall.

“All combined, the McCues served on the West Hartford Police Department for over 115 continuous years.” said McCue. “As my dad likes to say, “We have more years on the department, than the department has years!”

McCue has been involved in many significant cases and incidents in West Hartford over the last 39 years, including the rash of synagogue and home arson fires that occurred in 1983; the Operation Rescue takeover of the Summit Women’s Center in 1989 when 261 protesters were arrested; the Oct. 29, 2011 snowstorm that left West Hartford without power for ten days; and multiple high profile criminal investigations.

During his tenure, he was instrumental in creating programs to better the police department, as well as working behind the scenes in creating ordinances that improved the quality of life in West Hartford. As an assistant chief, he was responsible for locating and obtaining grant funding for the first School Resource Officers in the high schools.

Reflecting on his 39 years at the police department, McCue said, “I have had the great privilege of working in the best police department, in the best town, with best men and women in law enforcement.”

Police Chief Vernon Riddick, Jr. said, “Assistant Chief McCue’s career has spanned nearly four decades. His institutional knowledge and ability to provide a historical prospective regarding why certain policies and practices are in place has been vital in assisting me during my transition as Chief this past year.”

Assistant Chief Dan Coppinger said, “When I was first hired in 1990, Bob was my supervisor. I have had the opportunity to work for him and with him as an Assistant Chief. He has a tremendous amount of energy and vision that I have seen him use toward advocating for our community as well as our police officers. Most citizens and our police officers don’t get to see all of the diligent work he does for them behind the scenes. He is passionate about our town and the history and reputation of our police department.”

McCue as a young officer in 1989. (West Hartford Police Department)

Story by Renee McCue/Town of West Hartford