Police Commission Picks Rios As Second In Command

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission has named Joe Rios to the post of police captain, making him the second-in-command at the police department.

Police Commission members Tuesday night promoted Mr Rios to the rank of captain following interviews with four candidates for the job. Since May 2000, Mr Rios, who had held the rank of sergeant, had been serving as the department’s acting captain.

Police Commission Chairman James Reilly said Wednesday commission members unanimously promoted Mr Rios to captain.

“He did very well in the interview,” Mr Reilly said.

“We’re very happy with the job he’s been doing as acting captain,” Mr Reilly said. “He and Chief [Michael] Kehoe make a good management team,” Mr Reilly said. Mr Kehoe and Mr Rios clearly demonstrated their abilities while serving as acting chief and acting captain, respectively, Mr Reilly said.

Police Commission members promoted Mr Kehoe, who had been a police captain serving as the acting chief, to the rank of police chief on May 16.

The three candidates besides Mr Rios whom Police Commission members interviewed for the captain’s post had good credentials for the job, but based on his performance as acting captain during the past year, Mr Rios clearly demonstrated his management abilities, resulting in his promotion to captain, Mr Reilly said. Other candidates for the captain’s post were Detective Robert Tvardzik, Detective Sergeant Henry Stormer, and Sergeant Chris Vanghele.

The commission interviewed the four candidates for the captaincy in closed session, after which it deliberated in private, and then selected Mr Rios as the new captain in open session.

When the commission promoted Mr Rios to the rank of captain, it created a sergeant’s vacancy. Commission members Tuesday night named Darlene Froehlich as sergeant. Ms Froehlich had been serving as an acting sergeant.

Interview

Captain Rios, 38, who is married and lives in the area, discussed his promotion in an interview Wednesday.

“I’m very honored to have been selected,” he said. “The interview went well,” he said, noting that he was asked questions on management and leadership topics.

Of the competition for the captain’s post, Capt Rios said, “The other candidates who [were] interviewed were well qualified and well respected. Unfortunately, only one person can be selected. They [other candidates] are excellent people to work with.” 

“This past year, I’ve worked very hard in my position, with many challenges,” Capt Rios said. “I think we’re moving ahead in the right direction,” he said.

As the executive officer of the police department, Capt Rios will head the department’s operations bureau, which oversees both the patrol division and the detective bureau.

As captain, he will be involved in department planning, organization, and coordination, and will handle staffing and budgetary matters, plus inspection duties. The captain also is involved in internal discipline.

 Capt Rios will answer directly to Chief Kehoe and will run the police department when the chief is absent.

The Police Commission hired Capt Rios in April 1990. He started work as a patrolman. Before that, he had worked as a police officer at Fairfield Hills and also had worked as a special sheriff’s deputy.

In 1993, Capt Rios served as an investigator on the state police’s Statewide Narcotics Task Force. In 1994, under former police chief Michael DeJoseph, Capt Rios became the town’s first school resource officer, splitting his duties between Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School.

The Police Commission promoted him to the rank of sergeant in 1997. In May 2000, he was named acting police captain by the commission.

While serving as acting captain, Mr Rios attended various management training courses. Mr Rios said the support of others in the department has enabled him to rise through the ranks to become the second-in-command. The department is authorized to have up to 43 sworn officers. Currently, there are 42 members.

Capt Rios credited Chief Kehoe for guidance that he has provided. Also, Capt Rios expressed gratitude that the Police Commission has the faith in him to make him the second-in-command.

The police chief and police captain function as the police department’s managers, Capt Rios said.

“Together, we set the goals and objectives of the department. As managers, we oversee the operation of the department, which is carried out through the ranks,” he said.

 The holder of a 1985 bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, Capt Rios said his college background helped him in his work as acting captain. Higher education is an important component of an individual’s development, he said.

Capt Rios advocates providing police officers with training as a means to instill confidence and professionalism.

The patrol division functions as the backbone of the police department, he said, noting the importance of supporting the patrol unit and providing it with the tools needed to accomplish its tasks.

Of his goals, Capt Rios said he will work to continue providing quality police services and improved police services to town residents. The rank and file of the police department deserves the credit for providing those services, he said.

In his spare time, Capt Rios enjoys physical training and playing baseball for a team in New Canaan. The left-handed Capt Rios most often plays right field, and sometimes plays center field.