W. Haven chief tops long list of police retirees

Abbe Smith

Nov. 5, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- WEST HAVEN -- After 26 years with the Police Department -- the last four as chief -- Ronald M. Quagliani stunned the force Wednesday morning by saying he plans to retire.

The significance of the announcement was compounded by Deputy Chief Colleen Smullen's impending retirement. Quagliani and Smullen are among 14 officers taking advantage of an early retirement package offered last month as a way to soften the effect of a projected rash of retirements.

"This is the hardest decision I've made in my whole life," Quagliani said. "I've had a wonderfully fulfilling career. It's just time for me to close this chapter of my life."

Quagliani, who became a cop at 19 and is now 45, said he is leaving for personal reasons and to spend more time with his family. He said he is considering a "couple of opportunities" in the criminal justice field, but is focusing on spending time with his wife and three children over the holidays.

"This is probably the first time in 26 years I am able to do that," he said.

If his retirement is accepted by the Board of Police Commissioners, Quagliani will depart the second week in December. Pending approval by the commission, Smullen will take over as chief of the department during the transition period and retire when a new chief is hired.

The wave of departures signals an impending shakeup of the whole department. Most of the newly announced retirements will be staggered over the next six months to minimize their impact. Despite the dramatic changes in store, Quagliani assured residents that public safety will not be compromised.

"There will be no impact to the rank and file, and no impact to the community as far as services," he said.

Quagliani presented the early retirement package to the City Council in September, and said he expected more retirements than usual this year over concerns about the police contract and pension plan being in arbitration.

The retirement package prevents the city from having to pay retirees an immediate lump sum of accrued vacation and sick days, which could have cost $1 million or more.

Instead, the package allows officers to trade in accrued time for increases to salary used for calculating pension payments. And the money will come from the invested pension fund, rather than the city's operating budget.

Still, the package could cost the city $2 million to $6 million in the long run, which proponents argue could be greatly reduced if the financial markets improve.

Also, under the plan, the pension cap is raised from 75 percent of a retiree's adjusted salary to 80 percent, a major draw for participants. Details of the chief's and deputy chief's pensions were not immediately available. Police Commission Chairwoman Lisa Whitney Yarbor said she understands Quagliani's and Smullen's decisions, but is very sad to see them go. "It's like losing a family member," she said. Mayor John M. Picard, who attended Notre Dame High School with Quagliani, said he respects the chief's decision. "His job is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's a huge commitment away from your family," he said. Picard also noted that in addition to 4 1/2 years as chief, Quagliani served five years as deputy chief.

Yarbor said she has complete confidence in Smullen's ability to run the department during the transition period.

The new police chief and deputy chief will come from within the department, she added. Yarbor said the commission has scheduled a meeting to discuss the process that will be used to select a new chief.

Quagliani said the thing he will miss most about his job is the men and women on the force "and the camaraderie that we have."

"These people are my family," he said.

The hardest thing he had to do as chief was bury one of his own officers. He continues to wear a bracelet in honor of Officer Andy Sanchez, who died in April after battling stomach cancer.

"I still visit his grave," he said.

Last year, Quagliani was presented the Distinguished Chiefs Award by the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut.

In 2005, Smullen became the first female deputy chief in the department and she will be the first female chief, if approved by the commission.

With all the retirements, the department is losing about 300 years of experience. The rest of the newly announced retirees are: Officer David Hewston, 36 years of service; Sgt. John Jarvie, 27 years; Sgt. William Kleemola, 33 years; Detective Marvin Kasowitz, 32 years; Capt. Christopher Stratton III, 32 years; Detective Sgt. Edward Anderson, 27 years; Capt. John Serra, 26 years; Detective David Burke, 26 years; Capt. Lorie Tamaro, 23 years; Detective Joseph Vecellio, 23 years; Officer William Johnston, 22 years; and Officer Carmen Romano, 20 years.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0141-39468753