Following promotional interviews with the police department's three lieutenants, the Police Commission on November 8 named Lieutenant Christopher Vanghele, 46, to become the department's new captain.

Mr Vanghele joined the police department in June 1993, moving up the ranks to the position of lieutenant. In his role as captain, Mr Vanghele will be the second-in-command to Police Chief James Viadero.

The captain's vacancy was created by the recent retirement of Joe Rios, who left the department for a safety/preparedness position at the Norwalk public school system.

Police Commission Chairman Joel Faxon said November 9, "We had three superb candidates," adding that the department's three lieutenants represent "a testament to the quality of the personnel" in the 45-member organization. The commission conducted closed-door interviews with the three candidates at the November 8 session.

Selecting a single person to fill the captain's vacancy amounted to "a very difficult decision," Mr Faxon said, adding that all three men merited a promotion, but there was only one promotional position available.

"The future's very bright at the Newtown Police Department," Mr Faxon said.

The Police Commission unanimously voted to promote Mr Vanghele after considering his "body of work" as a police officer, as well as his long service in the organization, Mr Faxon said.

Voting in favor of Mr Vanghele's promotion were Mr Faxon, Brian Budd, Virgil Procaccini, Jr, Daniel Rosenthal, and Andrew Sachs.

Mr Vanghele's promotion is expected to take effect by early next year, at the same time that two other planned promotions to the ranks of lieutenant and sergeant take effect, Mr Faxon said.