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06/15/2016 08:30 AMIn February 2012, the East Haven Police Department (EHPD) faced tumultuous times. Brent Larrabee was hired as the interim police chief based in part on his years of experience working with departments in turmoil.
“When I was contacted about this job, I initially agreed to be interim chief because of my history doing just that,” says Brent. “While I enjoyed the position, it was very difficult and a tremendous challenge. When I had the opportunity to become the permanent chief, I seized it and was lucky enough that the board and mayor chose me.”
With his contract expiring, as well as a number of other personal factors, Brent is retiring from the EHPD at the end of the month. Deputy Chief Ed Lennon will take over the department from Brent.
“The timing was right for retirement and I felt we were far enough down the road in our progress,” says Brent, who is looking forward to time with his wife, Kathy Kerr, and their six children and six grandchildren with a seventh due soon.
Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s in Framingham, Massachusetts, Brent never expected to go into law enforcement, never mind become a police chief. Brent was drafted into the Vietnam War.
“I’m a product of the ‘60s and had no use for police so [going into law enforcement] was the furthest thing from my mind. I didn’t have a choice being part of the draft situation; it was still an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything and I’m proud I served,” says Brent. “Being here and looking back, I have to say I don’t know how that happened.”
After getting out of the army, Brent needed a job and visited the Framingham Police Department. Brent worked there for 15 years before taking on the role of chief of the department for another 15 years.
“I thought maybe if I stayed long enough, I could make some changes and help change the industry,” says Brent. “I want to hope that I did.”
Brent has now been in policing for 40 years, spending 25 of those years as a police chief. After retiring from the Framingham Police Department, which was “very emotional” as it has been his family’s hometown for generations, Brent spent some time working in Florida before working in Nigeria on a policing project for the state department.
After returning from Africa, Brent was the interim police chief in Westwood, Massachusetts, for nine months before serving as the police chief in Stamford from 2005 to 2010. In 2012, Brent was hired as the interim police chief for the East Haven Police Department.
“Framingham and Stamford are considerably larger departments, but this has been the most difficult and complex job in my 25 years as a police chief,” says Brent. “It has been very difficult but rewarding—a tremendous challenge that kept me here—but I certainly didn’t do it on my own. I did it with the help of a lot of people here.”
Brent credits both the sworn officers of the department as well as the civilian staff for their hard work in turning the atmosphere and culture of the EHPD around. He noted that the hiring of many new people helped him implement the changes in policies and procedures.
“Changing a police culture is probably much more difficult than the average person, who doesn’t work in the industry, understands, so we are very fortunate we were able to do it,” says Brent. “We worked very hard to make sure the community knew we were changing and that our local and federal partners knew we were a different police department. We welcomed their help and wanted people to know we would be a leader, not following.”
The improvements Brent and his staff made earned the department national recognition last summer when Brent, Mayor Joe Maturo, and other representatives were invited to a Community Policing Forum at the White House. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch also visited the EHPD.
“Her visit is really putting a capstone on work we did,” says Brent, who was invited to the White House two other times, both during his time with the Framingham Police Department. “It’s extraordinary for a small department like this to get that type of recognition. The recognition we got from the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Connecticut, the East Haven mayor’s office, the Town Council, the boards and commissions—they’re all very important.”
Brent’s accomplishments with the EHPD will be recognized by the Rotary Club of East Haven at its annual Joseph Buonome Memorial Public Safety Awards on Thursday, June 30. Firefighters Scott Gravino and Chris Rosa will also be honored.
The awards dinner will mark the end of Brent’s career with the EHPD. He and his wife are planning to travel to their home in Florida, visiting friends and family along the way. Once in Florida, Brent hopes to continue his education, reconnect with old friends, and make time for some golf and fishing.
For now, Brent is concentrating on working with Lennon to transition to the department to Lennon’s lead. While he is looking forward to another retirement, the end of his time with EHPD will be bittersweet.
“I have tremendous confidence in Ed and the people taking over,” says Brent. “A lot has happened here, but the most important thing is the quality and content of the men and women here. We have an extraordinary group of sworn police officers and civilian staff members here and I hope the townspeople recognize that. Being in a department for years, you form relationships and friendships and [retiring] does tug at your heartstrings a bit.”
For tickets ($50) to the East Haven Rotary Club awards dinner and ceremony, which will be held at the Country House, call Carl Ruggiero at 203-469-5545 or Frank Gentilesco, Jr., at 203-468-3205.