05-02-2025
Hartford police chief to retire end of February
Hartford's police chief will step down in just a few weeks. Town Manager, John Haverstock, announced the chief's resignation in a news release last Thursday, writing that he will leave behind a 'lasting impact' on the community.
Before joining Hartford, Police Chief Gregory Sheldon worked as a volunteer firefighter in Manchester and served with the Rutland Police Department for over two decades, working his way up to overseeing the patrol and outreach divisions. During his time there he even starred in a few episodes of TruTV's 'Speeders.'
Now after a nearly 25-year law enforcement career, the chief says he is ready to explore public service in other ways.
'It's in me to work in a public service role and I'm not going to fight that. I'll find something that will allow me to have that purpose and satisfaction of having that community,' he said.
As chief at Hartford, Sheldon says his focus was on creating community outreach and recognizing that policing is not always the answer for public safety issues.
During his two years, the chief has been dedicating himself to creating an Outreach Division, which includes an embedded social worker and substance use responder. He is also responsible for adding the department's first crime data analyst who will share crime statistics with the public and local social service organizations to promote collaboration. The department will hold its first 'HartStat' meeting next Tuesday.
'I hope that the next Chief that comes in, or if it's an internal applicant, sees the benefit of the outreach division and the community engagement portion of law enforcement,' said the chief.
Lieutenant Commander Karl Ebbighausen, who leads Hartford's Outreach Division, says he believes that, over the past two years, the department has become more connected to the community.
'I'm a little concerned about where we may be going without his leadership. I think we were on the right path and I certainly hope we stay that course,' he said.
Chief Sheldon says the town is currently searching for an Acting Chief who he hopes to train before he retires on February 28.
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