Milford Musings

Congratulations to the new Deputy Chiefs of the Milford Police Department, Tracy Mooney and Gerald Butler.

Mooney’s appointment was approved by the Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday night and will take effect after a promotion ceremony that will be held right after the holidays.

Chief Keith Mello also named Butler, a 26-year department veteran who has headed the Detective Bureau, to a deputy chief position through his authority under the police union contract.

The appointments of Mooney and Butler return the department to the format of two deputy chiefs and two captains which it operated under during the 1980s and early 1990s, Mello said. More recently the department has had one deputy chief and three captains.

Mooney is replacing former Deputy Chief Steven Fournier, who retired in June and is now the assistant to Mayor Ben Blake.

Mooney, who was selected from four candidates, has been the highest-ranking female member of the Milford police department’s certified employees for most of her 18-year career, and now becomes one of the highest ranking women in law enforcement in Connecticut.

Butler’s $83,900 salary won’t change with his new title, but he will remain in the union and be eligible for overtime, Mello said. Mooney will earn the same salary that Fournier did, $88,900. She will be the department’s second in command and will no longer be covered by the union contract.

“This is the team that will lead the deparment into the future,’’ the chief said. “The public should feel good about this leadership team and the advances that we’ve made and will continue to make.’’

Also being promoted are Lt. John Alexopoulos to captain, Sgt. William Cable to lieutenant and Officer Evan Beauvais to sargeant.