Lyddy Chosen as New Deputy Police Chief

Christopher Lyddy, a 28-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, was unanimously chosen as the new deputy police chief by the town's Police Commission Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm looking forward to the position and a chance to help shape the future of a fantastic police department that works hard for a great community," said Lyddy, 50, of Monroe. Lyddy is the department's second deputy police chief. Its first, Gary MacNamara, was promoted to police chief in July after former Police Chief David Peck retired. Before MacNamara was deputy chief, the department's upper echelon had a police chief and four captains. It now has a police chief, deputy police chief and two captains.

Lyddy was a member of the department's Police Explorers when he was 15 years old and he's been an adviser to the youth organization ever since he joined the department in 1982. Over the course of the last 28 years, Lyddy's worked in the department's Patrol, Investigative and Special Services' divisions and is currently commander of the Patrol Division. He also served as a member of the department's Emergency Services Unit and was also its commander for a couple of years.

Lyddy said he liked every division he worked in but was most fond of his time in the Investigative Division. "I greatly enjoyed my time in investigations," Lyddy said in a second-floor conference room in the Fairfield Police Department, adding that he was a detective for two and-a-half years and served as a lieutenant in the Investigative Division on two separate occasions during his career. Lyddy was also the department's Officer Friendly for a year.

MacNamara said he and Lyddy worked well together and he was looking forward to Lyddy officially becoming the deputy police chief. The Police Commission's 6-0 vote was to recommend Lyddy as the candidate to First Selectman Ken Flatto. Lyddy, who is now a captain, and Police Capt. Donald Smith were the two candidates for the deputy police chief's job.

"I think the commission had a hard choice, but I think they made a great choice," MacNamara said. "Chris will be a great partner in fulfilling the mission of the department."

"We've worked well together in different roles that we both had in the department, and I anticipate we'll work just as well together in the roles we have now," MacNamara said.

MacNamara said Lyddy, as deputy police chief, would be in charge of overseeing operations of the Patrol, Investigative and Special Services' divisions. He said Smith would become captain and commander of the Patrol Division.

Lyddy's promotion enables the department to fill more vacancies because a captain's position is now vacant, and, once a lieutenant is promoted to captain, it creates the ability to promote down the ladder as well.

"I have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to fill some of the vacancies in the department. It will allow us to fill some of the other vacant positions," MacNamara said of Lyddy's promotion.

Lyddy said he doesn't view himself as the "heir apparent" to the position of chief. "I think when Gary leaves we'll enter into a competitive process and anything can happen," he said.

The police chief, last time around, was chosen by the Police Commission from the deputy chief and two captains. MacNamara, who was deputy chief, was the one hired.

Lyddy's salary is subject to negotiation with Flatto. The adopted town budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year lists the deputy police chief's salary at $122,288 a year.