HARTFORD ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF KENNY HOWELL TO SERVE AS ACTING POLICE

HARTFORD ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF KENNY HOWELL TO SERVE AS ACTING POLICE

Published on July 03, 2024

HARTFORD, CONN. (July 3, 2024) - Today, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam appointed Assistant Chief Kenny Howell as Acting Chief of Police. Howell succeeds Chief Jason Thody, who in March announced his intention to step down. Howell will now serve as Acting Chief while the City continues its search for a permanent replacement.

Kenny Howell began his law enforcement career in 1991 as a police recruit with the New Haven Police Department and has since dedicated his life to public safety in service of his community. After serving in law enforcement for just under 22 years, Assistant Chief Howell was hired as Chief of Police in the town of Millbury Massachusetts, where he served for approximately 3 years. Throughout his career he has been a strong advocate of building trust and forging meaningful relationships through community policing.

"I'm grateful to Mayor Arulampalam for the opportunity to serve under his administration and carry on the work HPD has been doing to serve the people of Hartford," said Assistant Chief Howell. "I look forward to working with the Mayor and HPD to hit the ground running and continue to deliver the crucial services our residents need as Acting Chief of Police."

"It's been the honor of a lifetime to serve my City as Chief of Police," said outgoing Chief Thody. "I began my career in Hartford as a Police Cadet in 1996 and rose through the ranks until my appointment as Chief in 2020. For the past 4 years it has been a privilege to serve our residents and the City of Hartford, and I'm fortunate to have played a role in shaping the future of our department."

"I am grateful for Chief Thody's dedication to HPD and for his work helping the City during this time of transition," said Mayor Arulampalam. "My administration is working closely with HPD and Assistant Chief Howell to ensure a smooth transition as we continue to solicit community input on public safety priorities"

Assistant Chief Howell was sworn in as a member of the Hartford Police Department on December 21, 2020. He currently oversees the 4 bureaus: Patrol Operations, Administrative Services, Professional Standards, and Investigative Services.

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