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Danbury Appoints New Chief To Lead Police Department

DANBURY, Conn. — Stratford Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour has been appointed to replace outgoing Danbury Police Chief Alan Baker, Danbury Mayor Mark D. Boughton announced Wednesday morning.

Stratford Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour is leaving to take the top cop job in Danbury.

Stratford Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour is leaving to take the top cop job in Danbury.

Photo Credit: File

“Danbury is proud to welcome Chief Ridenhour. He and many other candidates went through an extremely rigorous hiring process, and Patrick truly shined throughout the process,” said Boughton. “It is my firm belief that our department is one of the best in the country, and as Chief Ridenhour takes the helm I know that we can expect out-of-the-box thinking and continued great service from Danbury’s finest for our residents."

Ridenhour currently serves as chief of the Stratford Police Department and is a 28-year law enforcement veteran.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen as the next Chief of the Danbury Police Department. I would like to thank Mayor Boughton for this tremendous opportunity to serve such a growing and diverse community. I look forward to working with the mayor, the men and women of this great department, and the entire Danbury community,” said Ridenhour.

He began his career at the Waterbury Police Department in 1988 and served there until 2008. In June 2009, Ridenhour was hired to be the new deputy chief of the Stratford Police Department. On March 1, 2012, he was promoted to chief of police there. 

Since his appointment, Ridenhour has worked successfully to improve labor relations, increase staffing, rotate assignments, increase leadership training for supervisors, expand the department’s use of technology, and most important, increase police outreach to the community, Boughton said in a statement.

Ridenhour holds a certificate in criminal justice education from the University of Virginia, a bachelor’s degree from Charter Oak State College, and a master’s degree in organizational management and leadership from Springfield College. 

A graduate of both the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in Quantico, Va., he serves as the CPCA representative to the state Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System, and is an executive board member of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

The Danbury Police Department has 155 members and works out of a new state-of-the-art 75,000-square-foot headquarters building on Main Street in downtown Danbury. 

The mayor’s appointment is subject to approval by the City Council.

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