Acting Chief Gets High Marks From Police Commission

By Andrew Gorosko

In a job performance evaluation of Captain Michael Kehoe, who has headed the police department for more than a year, the Police Commission gives Capt Kehoe high marks, saying he has performed his duties “admirably.”

The commission named Captain Kehoe to run the police department in July 1999, after it placed former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, on paid administrative leave. The commission fired Mr Lysaght as chief last March and named Capt Kehoe the “acting police chief” last April.

Police Commission members evaluated Mr Kehoe’s job performance for the period July 1, 1999, to June 30, 2000, in a closed session at an August 1 commission meeting.

Capt Kehoe’s “very favorable” job evaluation comes in marked contrast to former chief Lysaght’s last few evaluations, which grew increasingly negative before his termination by the Police Commission.

In Capt Kehoe’s evaluation, Police Commission Chairman James Reilly, writing on behalf of the commission,  wrote, “This assignment has tested his interpersonal relation skills, his judgment, and his leadership. Captain Kehoe has performed this assignment admirably.”

Mr Reilly notes that while Capt Kehoe has headed the police department, town police have conducted two major criminal investigations, both of which involved closely cooperating with other law enforcement agencies and which resulted in arrests.

 In July 1999, police apprehended two men whom they charged in the murder of Jason Gowdy, 15, of Sandy Hook. Last March, police charged two men in connection with the robbery of Fleet Bank on Queen Street.

 In Capt Kehoe’s evaluation, Mr Reilly provides a narrative describing the captain’s job performance as acting chief.

“Captain Kehoe has kept the Board of Police Commissioners fully informed with concise, comprehensive, and timely reports. The board has had adequate information and time to review these reports and to make decisions,” Mr Reilly writes.

“Progress on several projects had been disappointing. Since Captain Kehoe assumed command of the department, these projects have been completed. These projects include the replacement of the computer system, the installation of the computers in the patrol vehicles, and combined dispatch,” Mr Reilly adds.

“Captain Kehoe worked with the finance department and the vendors to bring the new computer system on line in a timely manner and within budget. Agreements have been reached with other branches of town government on the combined dispatch center, funding is in place and work will soon begin,” Mr Reilly adds.

Mr Reilly notes that Capt Kehoe was “instrumental” in successfully negotiating a labor contract between the town and the Newtown Police Union. “His knowledge of the contract [and] the needs of the department and its members, and his interpersonal skills aided in reaching agreements on several contract changes,” Mr Reilly writes.

In the evaluation, Mr Reilly lauds Capt Kehoe for his financial management skills, saying his budgetary work contained costs and brought a greater accountability to police department operations.

“Credit is due Capt Kehoe for careful management of the police overtime,” according to the evaluation.

“The board has received favorable reports from other town officials on Captain Kehoe’s administration and management of the department. Mention is often made of his depth of knowledge and his high level of cooperation,” Mr Reilly adds.

In an attachment to the narrative section of the job evaluation, Capt Kehoe is rated as “exceeds requirements” in the areas of: judgment, interpersonal skills, leadership, and cooperation. The rating of “exceeds requirements” is one of five such ratings on the form. Those ratings in descending order are: outstanding, exceeds requirements, achieves requirements, below expectations, and marginal.

Capt Kehoe received high marks in the areas of: supervising people; creative ability; attention to costs; communication ability; delegating ability; problem solving ability; job knowledge; ability to plan and organize work; and leadership ability.

The evaluation form states that the Police Commission’s performance goals for Capt Kehoe will be discussed with him.

Capt Kehoe’s current salary is $65,620. His salary is subject to a raise in September.