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Hartford Officials Hope Rovella Contract Finalized By Midweek

New Police Chief Still Must Be Sworn In

By JENNA CARLESSO

August 27, 2012

HARTFORD —— City officials said they hope to finalize a contract with James Rovella, who was named Hartford's new police chief, by Wednesday.

Jared Kupiec, Mayor Pedro Segarra's chief of staff, said Monday that the city has forwarded the contract to Rovella and is waiting for him to sign it.

Rovella could not be reached for comment Monday.

The mayor said earlier this month that he was close to reaching a deal on a four-year contract with Rovella, who has been the city's acting police chief since February. The city council approved Rovella's appointment at its Aug. 13 meeting.

Segarra named Rovella the city's new police chief on July 10. Though he did not apply for the position, Rovella, 54, bested three finalists who were chosen by a recruiting firm the city hired to assist in the search. He said he did not apply for the job because he wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Rovella's appointment was delayed, though; first for a background check and later by a contractual issue surrounding the acting chief's health insurance. Rovella originally told the city council that he would not accept the job without a promise of free lifetime health care, but later changed his mind, saying he learned about other "workable" plans.

Segarra has said Rovella would have the option of joining the police union's health care plan.

Once the contract is signed, Kupiec said, Rovella will be sworn in as police chief in a private ceremony that would probably take place in the mayor's office.

A public ceremony will follow in September, Kupiec said.