Mission Statement

The Primary Mission of the West Haven Police Department

The mission of the West Haven Police Department is to provide professional, knowledgeable, and thorough law enforcement services to ensure the safety and well being of all people, with constant awareness of the diverse needs of the individuals and community. Our officers will work in partnership with its citizens to achieve a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect for the betterment of the community. We will embrace a foundation of integrity and a code of ethics to provide the highest standard of quality of life.
 

Our Values

  • We will hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of professionalism. We will conduct ourselves with ethics that reflect the integrity of our department to nurture public trust.
  • We are committed to treating all persons and employees fairly and equitably.
  • We are committed to a friendly, empathetic and courteous service, treating each citizen with dignity and respect.
  • We encourage values that will foster greater police interaction with the community. We are committed to fair and impartial enforcement.
  • We will respect and preserve the human rights granted to all people under the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut. We will preserve peace through effective law enforcement, problem solving, and community policing.
  • We are committed to the improvement of our knowledge and abilities to promote professional development to best serve our community.
  • We will always value human life as our highest priority.

Chief of Police

Chief Joseph Perno

Chief Joseph Perno started full time with the West Haven Police Department on July 1, 1978. Throughout his time at the department, Chief Perno has attended numerous training classes, including Drug Enforcement Training as well as a State’s Attorney’s Law Enforcement Training Program. During his more than 40 year career with the WHPD, Chief Perno has received numerous commendations, accolades, and distinctions.

In 1982, during his time as a Patrolman, he received two letters of commendation. His first was for his exceptional police work in apprehending an armed subject with an automatic weapon. His second was received for apprehending an armed subject who was threatening to take the life of a victim while armed with two weapons. In 1988, Chief received a commendation for his apprehension of a person who was armed and wanted on robbery and conspiracy charges from a West Haven business. He also received commendation for apprehending a subject who had fired a gun inside his residence and threatened to kill his girlfriend. In 1989, then Officer Perno received a commendation for his response to a shooting of a State Trooper and a West Haven Detective.  Officer Perno assisted in securing the area and provided cover for the wounded officers and medical personnel who were attending to the injured officers. Also in 1989, he received a letter of commendation for his assisting the New Haven Police Department in apprehending a homicide suspect, who was also part of a drug distribution network. This

assistance lead to the arrest of two additional felony offenders and recovered a .38 caliber handgun. Officer Perno was appointed a SWAT team member in 1989, and to the rank of

Sergeant on January 11, 1991.


Within his time as a Sergeant, he was assigned to the patrol division and then assigned to the Street Crime Unit. He was also appointed Assault Team Leader of the SWAT team in 1991. While working in the Street Crime Division, Chief Perno received a commendation for his work in persuading an armed man who had barricaded himself in the kitchen of his home to surrender without incident. This apprehension led to the discovery and seizure of a large quantity of marijuana. He also received commendation in 1993 for his work in arresting four suspects for selling marijuana on the property of Forest School, which occurred after a two month long narcotics investigation. In 1998 Perno was appointed Detective Sergeant.


On July 18, 2002, Sgt. Perno was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant where he served as a Shift Commander for the Patrol Division. On March 19, 2010, Lieutenant Joseph Perno was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief. Joseph Perno was sworn in as Chief of the West Haven Department of Police

Services on June 5, 2019.


A lifelong resident of West Haven, Chief Perno enjoys spending time with his wife, Tina, his five children, two granddaughters and three dogs, and watching the New York Rangers.

Deputy Chief of Police

Deputy Chief Joseph Romano

Deputy Chief Romano began his distinguished career with the department in September of 2002. Over more than two decades of dedicated service, he has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety, professionalism, and community engagement. Throughout his tenure, he has served in a variety of critical roles, gaining extensive experience in patrol operations, departmental leadership, recruitment and hiring, and community relations.


Rising through the ranks of Patrolman, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain, Deputy Chief Romano has built a highly respected and decorated career. In his most recent role as Captain of the Patrol Division, he commanded the department’s largest and most visible unit, supervising five Lieutenants, eleven Sergeants, forty-five Police Officers, and five Animal Control Officers. His responsibilities also included oversight of the Traffic Division and the Animal Shelter. In this capacity, he ensured the effective deployment of personnel, guided officers in responding to a wide range of incidents, and maintained a strong focus on professionalism, accountability, and compassionate service.


Deputy Chief Romano has been instrumental in advancing modern policing initiatives within the department. Notably, he led the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera Program from inception through full deployment, including policy development, equipment acquisition, officer training, and community outreach. This initiative significantly enhanced transparency, strengthened accountability, improved evidence integrity, and reduced civilian complaints. Further demonstrating his commitment to innovation, he successfully secured approximately $250,000 in state grant funding to expand the department’s technological capabilities, including the enhancement of body-worn camera systems and the installation of dash cameras in police vehicles.


Under his leadership, the department achieved all three tiers of state accreditation through the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council, reflecting a strong commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. He has also collaborated with corporation counsel to develop and implement city ordinances and departmental policies that have positively impacted the quality of life for West Haven residents.


A strong advocate for community policing, Deputy Chief Romano has prioritized building meaningful partnerships with local organizations, including churches, veterans’ groups, neighborhood associations, and civic leaders. Through initiatives such as community meetings, public safety forums, and the highly successful “Coffee with a Cop” program, he has strengthened trust, improved communication, and reinforced the department’s role as a trusted community partner.


In addition, Deputy Chief Romano has enhanced interagency coordination and emergency preparedness through his active involvement in the Community Risk Reduction Taskforce, working closely with Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management to improve readiness and response during critical incidents.


Deputy Chief Romano’s leadership style reflects a balance of compassion and operational discipline. He leads by example, sets high standards for those under his command, and is deeply committed to mentoring and developing the next generation of law enforcement leaders. He is a graduate of Charter Oak State College and a proud United States Army veteran, having served on active duty as a Sergeant, including a year-long overseas deployment in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.


In his new role as Deputy Chief, Romano will assist in overseeing the daily operations of the department, support strategic planning initiatives, and ensure the continued delivery of the highest standards of service to the community. He brings to the position a proven record of leadership, integrity, and innovation, and remains committed to advancing the mission of the West Haven Police Department in promoting safety, accountability, and justice for all.

Past Chiefs

John M Loomis

1908 - 1921

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Robert French

1921 - 1924

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Harry W. Tuttle

1924-1948

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James F. Cannon

1948 - 1955

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Police Commissioners

The Board of Police Commissioners (the governing body of the Police Department) was created by a legislative act on October 13, 1913. The first Board, appointed by First Selectman John Wilkinson, included James S. Harlow, Chairman; Charles W. Scranton, former chairman of the old police committee; and Charles Stormont.

Our current Police Commissioners are as follows:

Christopher Suggs, Deborah B. Wright, Paul E. Butler, John Carrano, Brent Coscia
 To view or download the agenda or minutes from previous meetings click on the button below. Scroll down to the section for Board of Police Commissioners. Click on the year on the right.
All files are available in Adobe .PDF format.