Hamden Police Department fully staffed for 1st time in decade

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Thunderous applause echoed Friday through the rotunda at Hamden Town Hall as four new officers took the oath to join the town’s police department.

“To be able to be one of the last four to make this historic moment is just an honor,” 38-year-old Travis Hargrove said.

That historic moment, Chief Edward Page Reynolds said, is that the Hamden Police Department is now fully staffed for the first time in a decade.

“That only enhances our ability to connect with the community, engage with the community in very meaningful ways,” Reynolds said.

Hamden now has 103 sworn officers.

Mayor Lauren Garrett said the town has hired 41 officers since she took office in December 2021, and that Hamden is bucking a trend that’s still troubling many departments across the country.

“It’s unusual that a police department is fully staffed in this day in age,” Garrett said. “We’ve done a lot of work, a lot of collaboration to get here.”

Leaders said the collaboration is helping to staff the department appropriately.

“We’ll be able to take others, more experienced officers, and plug them into specialized divisions, such as traffic,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said about 30% of Hamden’s police force is made up of officers transferring from other departments. The other 70% are new recruits.

Leaders said the four new officers will join three others already enrolled in the academy. All seven are set to graduate this fall.

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