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City Council Approves Ridenhour As Danbury's New Police Chief

DANBURY, Conn. -- It’s official -- Danbury will have a new police chief by July.

The appointment of Patrick Ridenhour, center, as Danbury's top cop was unanimously approved Tuesday by the City Council. At left is Al Baker, who is retiring as police chief in July. Mayor Mark D. Boughton is at right.

The appointment of Patrick Ridenhour, center, as Danbury's top cop was unanimously approved Tuesday by the City Council. At left is Al Baker, who is retiring as police chief in July. Mayor Mark D. Boughton is at right.

Photo Credit: Danbury Police Department/Faccebook

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Mark D. Boughton’s choice to head the city's the 155-member department.

Patrick Ridenhour, who is now police chief in Stratford, will replace Al Baker, who is retiring this summer.

Ridenhour, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, after his appointment in May said he was “humbled and honored” to be chosen for the post and said he was looking forward to serving the “diverse and growing” Danbury community.

Ridenhour got his first policing job in Waterbury. He worked there from 1988 to 2008 and then was hired by Stratford as deputy chief in 2009. He was later promoted to chief of the Stratford department.

Boughton last month said he was impressed with Ridenhour’s "out-of-the-box" thinking and the way he has handled labor relations, increased staffing, expanded the department’s use of technology, and improved police outreach in the community.

Ridenhour earned a certificate in criminal justice from the University of Virginia.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Charter Oak State College in New Britain, and a master’s in organizational management and leadership from Springfield College in Massachusetts.

Ridenhour is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in Quantico, Va.

He represents the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association on the state’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System.

Ridenhour is also an executive board member of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

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