Town To Search For New Police Chief
Public To Discuss Ideal Applicants
MANCHESTER — The town manager says he wants to hear from town residents as a search for a new police chief begins.
Community meetings hosted by General Manager Scott Shanley are scheduled for Thursday at Martin Elementary School, 140 Dartmouth Road; Oct. 1 at Whiton Library, 100 North Main St.; and Oct. 4 at the Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce St. All sessions begin at 7 p.m. A fourth meeting at the senior center will be scheduled soon, Shanley said.
Marc Montminy, who became chief in 2009, resigned recently to take the chief's job in Uxbridge, Mass.
Shanley said he wants to hear people's comments on three main questions:
What are the top three law enforcement challenges in Manchester?
What should the new chief's highest priority be?
What traits are best in a candidate for chief of police?
Anyone who can't attend the meetings may email comments to Administrative Services Director Dede Moore at dmoore@manchesterct.gov.
Advertisements for the job, which list a salary range of $120,000 to $150,000, are going out this weekend to more than 20 publications and websites, Shanley said.
Under minimum qualifications, the job posting lists: a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, supplemented by courses in police science and administration and 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in police work, including four years at or above lieutenant rank or equivalent. A master's degree in public administration, business administration or related discipline is preferred, the posting says.
Also, “experience with and record of success in community oriented policing, professional development, innovative management, and a diverse community and police force is desired,” the posting says. The town charter requires that the chief live in town.
Montminy had sought another job as his pension eligibility peaked in 2015. He temporarily suspended his job search and stayed in Manchester after the town offered him a raise in pay from $132,778 to $150,000 in 2016. commit first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm. He also was charged with five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, one count of breach of peace and two counts of risk of injury to a minor because children were in the area at the time.
No one was injured in the incident, on Sept. 19, 2017, which happened in Bonilla's Webster Street neighborhood, Lt. Paul Cicero said Tuesday.
Bonilla had been involved in a “tumultuous” fight with a woman outside a four-story apartment building, and a resident of the apartment building heard the commotion. He looked out his window and yelled to Bonilla to leave the woman alone, Cicero said.
Bonilla responded by pulling out a gun and firing at the man, he said.
Police investigated and determined that Bonilla was the shooter. They got a warrant signed in October, but apparently couldn't find him, Cicero said.
Police located Bonilla last weekend. In addition to the charges from the shots-fired incident, Bonilla was arrested on charges of first-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct stemming from the domestic dispute, Cicero said.
He posted his total bail of $450,000, according to court records. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 26.