Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998
Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998
Publication: Bee
Author: ANDYG
Quick Words:
police-commission-James-Reilly
Full Text:
Police Commission Gets A New Chairman
BY ANDREW GOROSKO
The Police Commission has unanimously elected James Reilly to serve as its
chairman during the coming year.
At a Tuesday night meeting, Robert Connor, Jr, who has served as chairman
during the past year, told commission members "My workload has increased,
probably double since last year."
Mr Connor expressed a desire to serve as vice chairman, a post which he had
held for many years before becoming chairman. Members unanimously named Mr
Connor vice chairman.
Mr Connor reminded commission members that when he became chairman a year ago
he had urged that each member have an opportunity to head the panel.
Now that Mr Reilly has become chairman, four of the five current members on
the Police Commission have attained that rank.
William Meyer served as chairman in 1997; Carol Mattegat was chairman in 1996.
Before Mrs Mattegat's tenure as chairman, former member Richard Sturdevant
served as chairman for many years.
The current fifth Police Commission member, Charles Pilchard, was appointed to
the agency after Gerald Frawley resigned his post in August.
"Thank you all for your support," Mr Reilly told commission members after they
elected him chairman. Mr Reilly also thanked Mr Connor for his work as
chairman during the past year.
Mr Reilly, a Republican, is in the fourth year of his first term on the
commission. He is a former state policeman.
He was elected to the seat which was vacated when Mr Sturdevant opted not to
seek reelection in 1995.
Mr Connor's hectic work schedule became clear Tuesday night when he asked that
the election of officers, which had been scheduled for the end of the meeting,
be moved up on the schedule. The elections were held sooner than planned and
Mr Connor then left the session for a business engagement in New Haven.
Mr Reilly then took over the reins of the agency, moderating discussions on
several other topics.
The Police Commission creates and implements regulations for the police
department. It appoints, promotes, suspends and removes members of the
department.