City officers say they like top cop nominee
STAMFORD — City police officers say they are very pleased with Mayor David Martin’s choice to lead the department in its 126th year of fighting crime and keeping the peace in
Stamford.
Timothy Shaw, 53, was named Thursday as Martin’s nominee to take over the 270-person department after the last chief, Jon Fontneau, retired last May. Since the summer, Thomas
Wuennemann has served as acting chief.
Shaw worked his way up to become assistant chief in the Stamford Police Department before taking the Easton police chief’s job in May 2015. As assistant chief, which he was promoted to in 2013, he commanded 150 officers as head of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the Narcotics and Organized Crime squad, the youth Bureau and Internal Affairs.
Shaw is set to be interviewed by the Board of Representatives’ Appointments Committee on Feb. 25. He should be recommended to the full board for a vote March 2.
Stamford Police Association union President Kris Engstrand said Shaw is a great pick for the city’s top cop. Engstrand, who vehemently supported the hiring
of a police chief from within, said Shaw checked off all the boxes.
“Choosing Chief Shaw is the best of both worlds. Yes, he did leave us for a few years and gained some different experience, which will make him an even better chief for us now,” Engstrand said. “He’s definitely Stamford PD at heart. He grew up here and has a fantastic connection to the community. In my 20 years of working with him, he always treated people like he wanted to be treated.”
Engstrand said he also got to play softball with him and got to know Shaw as a person and said he put care into everything as if it was his own.
Sgt. Christopher Gioielli said he will be very happy to see Shaw back in Stamford police ranks.
Gioielli said after working with him in the Narcotics and Organized Crime unit for a number of yearsm, he always saw him
treat Stamford residents with respect and compassion.
“He leads by example and has the needed energy and drive to move our department forward. I am sure he won’t disappoint,” he said. “If your looking for some dirt on him, I once saw him improve his lie on the golf course with his ‘foot wedge’.”
Sgt. Kenneth Jarrett, a 35-year veteran of the department, said back in the day the two rode Southfield Village together, when the complex was a pretty chancy place to patrol.
“I think he is a very nice man and he’ll make a great chief,” Jarrett said.
Former police Chief Jon Fontneau said Martin made a good choice naming Shaw as chief.
“Chief Shaw combines the traits of kindness, compassion, and caring along with a great love of policing,” Fontneau said. “Tim is an excellent man who has always brought honor to our police department, the Easton Police Department, to each respective communities and to his family. Tim’s talents are wide ranging however his integrity is his foremost talent. I wish Chief Shaw well and have great confidence that the Stamford community will be pleased with Mayor Martin’s decision.”