HARTFORD, Conn. — The leader of the Hartford Police Department is stepping down after more than four years in the role.
Chief Jason Thody, who began his career in the capital city’s police department in 1996, made the announcement with Mayor Arunan Arulampalam on Monday.
Thody said the announcement comes with "mixed emotions." He said he would not seek a new contract and retire from the police department in the near future.
“One of my mentors a long time ago told me that I would know when it’s time to start a new chapter,” he said. “And for many reasons, I am confident this is that time.”
Thody did not rule out continuing his career in law enforcement in another capacity saying, “We will see what happens.”
He went on to say that the decision was one he made with his family and that it had nothing to do with the change in city leadership.
"It has been a true honor and privilege to serve as chief of this amazing department, in this amazing city," Thody said. "I look forward to continuing our work in the coming months."
Arulampalam said that in the coming weeks and months, they will have a series of listening sessions within the community to hear about people's concerns and what they are looking for in a new police chief. He said he wants the new police chief to have the confidence of the community that he had when he entered office earlier this year.
“We want to engage every community individually. Talk about and dream about what public safety could look like in this city and what the qualities we are looking for in a police chief are," Arulampalam said.
Arulampalam said he is willing to consider both internal and external candidates, adding that police departments are “an important tool in public safety…but can’t be the entirety of the approach.”
Thody said he will remain in his role during the search for a new candidate to ensure a smooth transition, a process that could take up to six months.
"In my 28 years, I've seen 11 different chiefs...from those experiences one thing is certain: transition can be stressful," Thody said, adding that if the department, the city's leadership and the community are in a "strong position, a transition can be seamless and growth can begin immediately."
Thody was appointed as Chief of Police on March 2, 2020, by then-Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin after serving as interim chief for just under a year. Early on, he was disciplined for crashing into a guardrail while driving in Cheshire.
His tenure is tied to some difficult years, including his last four years as police chief which began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A global pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and resulting demonstrations, increased violence, immense attrition and staffing shortages across the nation and the loss of detective Bobby Garten. The Hartford Police Department responded to each and every challenge with empathy and strength,” said Thody.
His departure comes during success and turmoil for the Hartford Police.
Under Thody’s leadership, the city has modernized its records system, prioritized transparency and accountability, is nationally accredited, and boasts a crime center that’s the envy of other departments.
In June 2021, however, the Hartford Police Union voted no confidence in Thody, citing several issues, including the elimination of members' seniority benefits.
Throughout the four years, the police department has also been marred with staffing challenges.
“The role of police chief is one that requires a lot of public trust and we want to have as open and transparent and public community-driven process as we can in selecting the next police chief,” explained Arulampalam.
Corrie Betts, Greater Hartford NAACP President and stakeholder, said "I’m always mindful of individuals who are coming in who are relatable to the community in which they are serving. You have to be a part of that community in order to serve that community."
Thody began his law enforcement career as a cadet with the Hartford Police Department in 1996 and graduated from the Connecticut Police Academy in 1997.
According to a biography on the city’s website, policing was a lifelong passion for Thody, who started as a Middletown Police Explorer in 1989 when he was 14 years old.
During his career in Hartford, Thody also served as assistant chief of Professional Standards and Administration, where he oversaw Internal Affairs, inspections, the training academy, career development, and more. During this time, he led the department’s efforts to acquire body-worn cameras.
Thody earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Tunxis Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business management from Albertus Magnus College, and a graduate certificate in criminal justice from the University of Louisville. He also holds a Certified Litigation Specialist distinction from Americans for Effective Law Enforcement.
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