New Police Chief Picked In West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT – West Hartford Town Manager Matt Hart announced Monday that he has extended a “conditional offer of employment” to Waterbury Police Chief Vernon Riddick to serve as the town’s next chief of police. The offer is “conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check and other related requirements set by the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council,” according to a press release. Once approved, Riddick will replace former Police Chief Tracey G. Gove, who retired last November.

Riddick has served as chief of police in Waterbury since 2013. He joined the Waterbury Police Department in 1994 and has steadily risen through the ranks, including positions with managerial responsibility for patrol, internal affairs, and administration. Riddick holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and a master’s degree from Post University, and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development course. Additionally, Riddick has received various awards throughout his career in recognition for his commitment to community policing, his support for the autism community, and for other professional and civic activities, according to the press release.

“I’m very pleased to extend this conditional offer of employment to Chief Riddick,” Hart said in a statement. “Based on his character and integrity, his professional experience, training and formal education, as well as his passion for law enforcement and public service, I’m confident that Mr. Riddick will do an excellent job as West Hartford’s next Chief of Police. West Hartford is a special place with a highly regarded police department. We were fortunate to have a strong pool of candidates, and I would like to thank each and every one of them for expressing their interest in this position. I look forward to completing the remaining steps in the recruitment process and to introducing Chief Riddick to the members of our department and to our community.”

Riddick is expected to start in his new role on June 4. The town will announce plans for Riddick’s swearing-in ceremony at a later date.