Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s interim pick to lead the Hartford Police Department is a familiar name across Connecticut and in the capital city.
On Friday, Arulampalam announced that the former commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), James Rovella, will serve as the city’s interim police chief while the search for a permanent police chief continues.
Rovella served as chief of Hartford Police Department from 2012 to 2018. He began his career with the department as a patrol officer and, later, as a detective.
He also spent 12 years working for the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, before Gov. Ned Lamont named him to lead DESPP in 2019.
Rovella, who retired from state service in 2023, will take on the new role starting Monday. He also will help with the transition of the new permanent police chief.
Arulampalam said he will take additional steps to engage the community in the search for a permanent chief of police.
He has held seven listening sessions over the last year and will conduct additional sessions, spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement and Office of Violence Prevention.
Arulampalam has also established a community advisory group for the hiring process consisting of Hartford residents Andréa Comer, Phyllis Airey, Calixto Torres and Hartford Inspector General Joseph Lopez.
Earlier this month, Arulampalam’s prior pick for police chief, Philadelphia Police Department Capt. Tyrell McCoy, dropped out “due to personal reasons.”
Former Hartford Police Department Assistant Chief Kenny Howell has been serving as interim police chief for about six months.
