Seymour Police Department Chief John Bucherati
SEYMOUR — New Seymour Police Department Chief John Bucherati, who began his role Jan. 1, presided over his first official police commission meeting Jan. 19, giving a report of what he’s been up to over his first few weeks on the job.
“It’s going very well and everyone has been very accommodating and helpful; this is a great bunch of people to work with, and I couldn’t be happier,” Bucherati told the commission, an elected body that oversees the police budget and works with the chief on administrative matters.
One of Bucherati’s first challenges came just three days into the job when a tricky ice storm caused upwards of 40 accidents in the area. A Valley resident, Bucherati said it took him an hour to get to work. He commended his fellow officers on a job well done for their response in handling various accidents.
Bucherati is also finalizing his first police budget for 2022 – 2023, and said he’s keeping an eye on rising gasoline costs.
The chief is also making updates to several department policies, including use of force, police pursuits, domestic violence and body cameras. He’s also ensuring the department is compliant with the state’s police accountability bill, and has scheduled required mental health wellness checks next month for officers, and will conduct another round for more officers in July.
Bucherati also participated in two COVID-19 home test kit distribution events at Seymour High School with other town officials, and reported that both went off without a hitch.
“You’re off to a great start,” Commissioner Dave Bitso told the chief. “I’ve been downtown and am hearing very positive things about you. We’ve asked you for things and we get it the next day; you’re a real Johnny-on-the-Spot.”
Bucherati, 50, a Seymour native, came here after working for the Fairfield Police Department for nearly 32 years, most recently as deputy chief. He replaced former Chief Paul Satkowski, who also spent the last 30 plus years in law enforcement, and retired Dec. 31.
Building Police/Student Relationships
Seymour police officers will partner with Seymour High School juniors and seniors interested in careers in law enforcement to earn credits on their annual Capstone Projects. The project allows students to explore potential career interests, and culminates with a presentation to a panel of community members.
SHS Assistant Principal Paul Lucke told the commission that he and Community Police Officer John Oczkowski talked a while back about having officers teach some courses relative to policing and to serve as mentors/advisors for students interested in pursuing careers in police work.
As an added bonus, Lucke said the district is planning to partner with Post University in Waterbury to offer students the ability to take various criminal justice courses online, and earn future college credits towards a bachelors or associates degree at the university.
Lucke said Post offers a variety of criminal justice-related courses, and SHS students would be able to earn some college credits by taking classes online at their own leisure. Lucke said the cost to students would be $300 a course.
In an effort to help students pay for those courses, the commission voted to establish a student fund, using $5,000 from its community policing fund to kick-start the donations. First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis offered to donate $600 out of her own pocket to help two SHS students take one course each, in memory of her father-in-law, the late Jerome Drugonis, a former police captain with the Connecticut State Police.
A 2nd Second in Command
The commission is hoping to advertise a job posting for a second Deputy Police Chief. Seymour had two deputy chiefs in place since 2018, when current Deputy Chief Roberto Rinaldi and former Deputy Chief Steve Prajer were promoted. Prajer, however, retired in March 2020, after nearly 30 years with the department, leaving a vacancy.
“This position will be responsible for many administrative tasks, such as internal investigations, policy and procedures, training and now will be tasked with required duties added because of the police accountability act,” Chief Bucherati said. “That would include psychological assessments, accreditation management and compliance, and overall management of body cameras and storage, not to mention, general operational oversight of the patrol and detective divisions.”
Commissioner Robert Koskelowski said the position is needed.
“I believe it’s necessary to have three, non-union administrative positions in our department. And with all the new state mandates coming with the new police accountability bill, we need to fill this position,” Koskelowski said.
The position pays an annual salary of $105,000.
