MacNamara Selected as Next Police Chief on Unanimous Vote

Acting Police Chief Gary MacNamara, a 22-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, was unanimously recommended to be the next police chief by the town's Police Commission this morning.

The commission's recommendation, passed on a 6-0 vote, now heads to First Selectman Ken Flatto for approval.

"I'm very pleased," Flatto said in a second-floor conference room at the Police Department following the vote. "I think Gary has been a superb deputy chief. I'm very pleased with the commission's choice."

"Gary has proven, above and beyond, his capability to assume leadership and coordinate operations of the department," Flatto added.

MacNamara said, "It goes without saying that I'm honored but at the same time humbled. I've worked for and with four police chiefs...I've learned from each one of them, and I have big shoes to fill."

MacNamara said he appreciated the confidence that the Police Commission, Flatto, members of the Police Department and members of the town with whom he's spoken had in him.

"I've worked with, and continue to work with, great people in our organization and town. I respect them and look for their continued support as this department and our dedication to public safety moves forward," MacNamara said.

MacNamara was hired as a police officer in January 1988. He was promoted to sergeant in 1998, lieutenant in 2001 and captain in 2006. He then served as deputy chief of police after the department was reorganized and became acting chief of police after former Police Chief David Peck retired last month.

Flatto said he intends to "move forward as quickly as possible" in entering into a contract with MacNamara, who will be the department's ninth police chief. "Hopefully, by the beginning of next week, we'll have the details in place."

Before the Police Commission could recommend a police chief to Flatto, it first had to wrestle with the fact that all three candidates to be police chief - MacNamara, Police Capt. Christopher Lyddy and Police Capt. Donald Smith - live outside of Fairfield. The Town Charter requires the police chief to become a voter in Fairfield within six months of assuming office.

Town Attorney Richard Saxl wrote to Lewis Button, a staff attorney at the Office of Secretary of the State in Hartford, and spelled out what MacNamara was willing to do to establish a "bona fide residence" in Fairfield and become a voter in Fairfield.

Button wrote back to Saxl and said he believed MacNamara "will have a strong case for bona fide residence" if he undertook those steps. The steps included renting an apartment in Fairfield, where he would spend most days and periodic nights; changing the address on his driver's license to a Fairfield address; obtaining a resident Fairfield beach sticker and library card; establishing bank and utility accounts using a Fairfield address; and using a Fairfield address to receive mail from professional organizations that he belongs to.

MacNamara, who lives with his family in Bethany, intends to maintain a residence in that town.

Saxl then informed Police Commission Chairman Donald Kleber of Button's letter, and Saxl wrote to Kleber, "I am of the opinion that, if, within six months of an appointment as Chief of Police, this candidate fulfills the commitments specified in the second paragraph of this letter, he will have established a bona fide residence in Fairfield and can become an elector [registered voter] of the Town of Fairfield thus satisfying the Charter mandate."

Police Commission member William Fitzpatrick made the motion to recommend MacNamara as the next police chief and commission member Samuel Lazinger seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 because commission member Sidney Postol was absent.