Mayor Taps Michael Timbro For Deputy Chief of Police

Calling him "a man of impeccable integrity," and "incredibly intelligent," the mayor today named 18-year veteran police officer Acting Capt. Michael Timbro as his selection for the city's next deputy chief of police.

With his wife Cheryl at his side and dozens of supporters in the police community room, Timbro, 44, a lifelong Middletown resident and 1986 Middletown High School graduate who joined the force in 1995, said he was honored at the nomination.

"Over the past 12 months, I've had the opportunity and privilege as acting captain to work alongside the chief and command staff, city directors and elected officials," Timbro said. "I'm excited about the direction I see Chief McKenna taking the department in."

Chief William McKenna said Timbro and Capt. Sean Moriarty had interviewed for the position of deputy chief of police, but he and Mayor Dan Drew chose Timbro for several reasons. 

"He's young, he's energetic, he's dynamic, that's exactly what we are looking for to solidify our command staff. This promotion will finally open up the other promotions within the department so we can finally get rid of all of our acting positions," McKenna said.

As acting captain, Drew said, Timbro has successfully accomplished what others may not have been able to. "He's been doing the job without a complete command staff and he's done an incredible job." 

Drew said Timbro was instrumental in helping both he and McKenna with vital information during their first few months in office.

"He's a man of impeccable integrity, he's incredibly intelligent," Drew said. "The chief and I have relied on him heavily for a number of administrative and operational duties, including some pretty vexing riddles that we were confronting as we were both acclimating to our posts early on in my administration and the chief's administration.

"Capt. Timbro has handled all these duties with calm, vigor, intelligence and with a thoroughness that has impressed me immensely," Drew said.

That was met with wide applause from those gathered.

Middletown's number two administrative spot in the police department has been vacant since acting deputy chief Patrick McMahon was terminated by Mayor Dan Drew last February for conduct unbecoming a police officer.

In November, the Common Council approved a 3 percent increase in the unfilled deputy chief's salary. The salary increase, says Mayor Daniel T. Drew, was entirely motivated by encouraging a current, qualified police officer to fill the deputy chief of police position internally.

The deputy chief of police salary moved from ($33.21 to $49.16) to ($39.40 to $58.30) hourly.

Timbro, the father of three adult children, was a patrol detective for eight years. Three years later, he was promoted to sergeant and then named head of the narcotics division. Two years later, he was promoted to patrol lieutenant. Timbro was also a Special Weapons And Tactics Team leader for seven years and a year ago was appointed acting captain by Police Chief William McKenna.

He drew fire, when in 2003, a then Sgt. Timbro was witnessed when off-duty by five police officers, firefighters and an emergency management technician acting in an aggressive manner after he encountered a roadblock near his home, that was set up after severe winter weather caused a multivehicle pileup, according to an article in the Hartford Courant.

A yearlong internal affairs investigation overseen by then Deputy Police Chief Phil Pessina into his conduct led to a three-day unpaid suspension by then Chief J. Edward Brymer, according to the Courant, and prompted a harshly worded editorial in the Courant.

Councilman majority leader Joseph Serra, who hired Timbro in 1995 during his tenure as mayor of the city, attended the announcement, in addition to past chief Edward Brymer and former deputy chief and councilman Joseph Bibisi. Many city employees, police officers and Timbro's family members were also in attendance.

Timbro will be vetted by the personnel review committee Tuesday and his nomination must be approved by the common council at its February regular meeting.

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