History

The present home of the Ridgefield Police Department is one of the town's historic mansions built before the turn of the century. This home was originally built as the residence of George Lounsbury who once served as Governor for the State of Connecticut. It then became the home of George Rockwell, a nephew of George Lounsbury, who served for many years as the Postmaster for the Town of Ridgefield.

The mansion was eventually purchased by the State of Connecticut and became Troop A Headquarters of the State Police in 1925. In the mid-1970's, the State Police moved from the mansion to Southbury and the Town of Ridgefield bought the property.

Initially, the town had a small police department which operated out of town hall with the First Selectman acting as Chief. In October of 1955 the town officially recognized an organized Ridgefield Police Department with its own chief. The department soon outgrew the space at town hall and when the town purchased the vacant State Police Headquarters, it was remodeled and became the home of the Ridgefield Police Department in November of 1976.

The Ridgefield Police Department has had the following six Chiefs of Police, and five Majors during its existence:

CHIEFS:

Chief James Brady 1955-1965 brady1-200x250
Chief John F. Haight - 1965-1977 haight1-210x250
Chief Thomas Rotunda - 1977-1999 chief_rotunda-200x250
Chief Richard Ligi - 1999-2008 chief_ligi-200x250
Chief John Roche - 2008-2018roche1-177x250
Chief Jeffery Kreitz - 2018-Presentchief_0_0-214x250

MAJORS

Major Richard Bellagamba - 1977-1996 bellagamba-199x250
Major Donald McGran - 2008-2011 mcgran1-199x250
Major Stephen Brown - 2011-2021 sbrown2_0-188x250
Major Shawn Platt - 2021-2024 platt2_0-183x250  

Major Nicholas Fowler - 2024-Present
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