To the Editor:

I write to support Neil Chaudhary for the Newtown Board of Police Commissioners. As a commissioner, he has served the town well with his thoughtful contributions and decisions on public policy.

From the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee, Community Emergency Response Team and Legislative Council to the Tick-Borne Disease Committee, Public Safety Committee, and Police Commission, he has helped steer public policy in a sound and beneficial direction.

I worked closely (as CT Department of Motor Vehicles chief of staff) with Neil on several projects. One crafted and then continued analysis for many years path-breaking teen safe driving laws in Connecticut. He contributed insight, time and data analysis from his countrywide involvement in this and other traffic safety issues. He also has helped provide information, analysis and direction on Connecticut’s life-saving seat belt and distracted driving laws.

Further, his work and analysis with various state and federal officials, injury prevention authorities, community advocates, and others on driving under the influence also shaped public policy throughout the country. Across the broad spectrum of transportation safety in Connecticut and nationally, his work for decades has helped to save thousands of lives by influencing safety decisions with police on the ground and officials in state capitals.

Newtown is lucky to have a resident who willingly and without charge contributes his refined thinking skills — as well as expertise in national public-policy making — to make his community safer, stronger and resilient.

I am a New England alumni board member of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and believe that Neil embodies and models the qualities and commitment encouraged for a leader in public policy who seeks to improve the lives of others. He is a person I often think about when talking on that topic for our association worldwide.

Bill Seymour

Glastonbury