Pandemic can’t prevent Stamford from swearing in new police chief

STAMFORD — With everyone in the room wearing masks, Mayor David Martin swore in Timothy Shaw as the city’s new police chief at police headquarters Thursday morning.

Shaw, 53, who has spent the past five years as chief of the Easton Police Department, becomes the 15th chief in the department’s 126-year history.

The post brings the new chief back to the city and department where he served for 27 years. Before decamping for Easton, Shaw had achieved the rank of assistant chief in Stamford, and commanded nearly 150 officers.

An event like the installation of a new chief usually draws a crowd of family, friends and city dignitaries. But Shaw was sworn in during a private ceremony with immediate family and few others in the Police Department’s Community Room due to social distancing requirements brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is a very challenging time, we all know that. But yet this is still a proud day in the city of Stamford as we move ahead and continue to plan for the safety and in the future, the joy of all the residents in the city,” Martin said. “In some ways despite all the challenges that we face, and we all know what they are with this virus, it is also a proud day for Chief Shaw and all his family and the people of Stamford.”

Martin said he was especially moved by the dedication of some officers who decided to stand in the rain outside the plate glass windows of the Community Room to see Shaw be sworn in.

“That is a proud, proud moment,” he said.

Shaw said that, until a few months ago, he had no inkling he would be coming back to his old department as its chief.

“People asked me in the past, but I really thought it was going in another direction and I did not think I was in the running. But as it played out it became a situation and the longer it went to appoint a new chief the more people began contacting me and I began to think it was a good time to come back,” he said. “As things moved on it seemed like a very viable option.”

Given the current crisis, Shaw said it is difficult to be in a celebratory mood. But he said he is eager to take over as chief. “I’m excited to have this opportunity to lead the department following previous chiefs who I have always looked up to and respected. It’s an honor,” he said.

Shaw said he wasn’t taken aback by the mayor’s order to wear a mask during the ceremony.

“It is the times we are in. You might as well lead by example,” he said.

Before the ceremony was over Martin gave acting Chief Tom Wuennemann special thanks for running the 270-member department since July.

“He has managed this department in a very solid, great, wonderful way in some of the most challenging times this department has ever had. So, I just wanted to thank you for your service, it has been terrific. I would just like to applaud you,” Martin said.

Wuennemann had previously served as assistant chief.

Shaw said he had no immediate plans to adjust the command structure of the department. On Thursday he planned to meet with he command staff and police union, and be thereto greet each squad as officers showed up for their shifts. Since Shaw’s departure for Easton, the department has hired 61 new officers.

Shaw said his attention right now is on the pandemic and he wants to make sure the department is doing everything it can for its officers and their families as well as the citizens of Stamford.

“Lets make sure we don’t miss anything. These next couple of weeks are going to be brutal for the community,” he said, adding that his directive for the residents of Stamford is, “Stay safe and stay inside.”

Former chief Jon Fontneau said Martin made an excellent choice in the appointment of Shaw.

“During these unprecedented and turbulent times in our society Tim has and will bring with him a calming, no nonsense leadership style in which he will lead by example,” Fontneau said. “Tim’s talents, his vision, his intelligence, and his compassion are wide ranging. However, Tim’s integrity is his foremost asset. Welcome back, or should I say welcome home.”

Former Chief Robert Nivakoff shared Fontneau’s opinion.

Nivakoff, who ran the department from 2009 to 2012 before turning it over to Fontneau said he remembered when he appointed Shaw to head up the newly created Neighborhood Impact Unit.

He said the team, which worked from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., split the city into more than 20 neighborhoods, studied crime statistics in each and worked out when the high crime times occurred.

“I selected him because he was a dynamic, creative professional and it worked out,” Nivakoff said. “They had tremendous success and they cut crime by 28 percent in the city. I was very impressed with the job he had done and I know he will do the same thing for the city of Stamford.”

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com