Fairfield PD
Fairfield Police Department Deputy Chief John Bucherati will become Seymour’s Chief of Police on Jan. 1, 2022.
SEYMOUR — The town will have a new police chief on the beat starting Jan. 1.
The Board of Police Commissioners during a Zoom meeting Monday (Nov. 22) unanimously voted to hire John Bucherati.
A current Valley resident who grew up in Seymour, Bucherati is currently serving as Fairfield’s deputy police chief.
Bucherati, 50, will replace Chief Paul Satkowski, who, after more than 30 years in law enforcement, is retiring Dec. 31.
The commission made Bucherati a conditional offer for the top cop job in late September. Bucherati had to undergo a polygraph test and background check before the commission could vote on a contract. The commission on Monday approved a five-year contract for Bucherati, who will earn an annual salary of $125,000.
Commission Chairman Kyle Kelley said a dozen people applied for the job, but Bucherati stood out among the rest. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and master’s degree in cybersecurity from Sacred Heart University.
A 1989 graduate of Seymour High School and a volunteer with Seymour Ambulance in the early 1980s, Bucherati began his career with Fairfield police in 1990 as a patrol officer. He worked his way up the ranks, having served, in part, in the detective bureau, where he was responsible for investigating crimes against children and also served on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport Area Narcotics Task Force.
Bucherati was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant in Fairfield, where he became the commander of the emergency services unit, and also served as the field training coordinator for new recruits. He was ultimately promoted to captain in 2020, where he oversaw the administrative services bureau. Bucherati was promoted to Fairfield’s deputy chief in July.
After 31 years with Fairfield police, Bucherati decided it was time for a change.
“I grew up in Seymour, attended Seymour public schools and still have family who live there,” Bucherati said. “When I saw that the chief’s job was open, I thought that it would be a great next step for me in my law enforcement career, to come back and serve my hometown as its police chief.”
During Bucherati’s time with the Fairfield police, he was part of a unit citation from the department in 2002 for actions taken during a hostage standoff. In 2004, he was recognized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his investigative work on a multi-state cocaine trafficking case.
In 2005, he was recognized for investigative work in the case against a man who was convicted of sexual assault, kidnapping and carjacking.
One of Bucherati’s top priorities here will be to start the department on the path to accreditation, along with implementing required changes necessary under the police accountability bill. He believes his leadership style will mesh nicely with the officers.
“I have no problem confronting issues head on, and I believe in recognizing good work,” Bucherati said. “I am open to having conversations with anyone, and most times will take into consideration everyone’s input in making big decisions.”
Fairfield has a population of more than 60,000 with a police force of 108 officers, compared to Seymour’s population of just over 16,000 residents with 41 officers.
“Both of our respective communities deal with the same crimes and issues, and I am sure that there are some unique challenges that I will face in Seymour that I have not encountered in Fairfield,” Bucherati said.
Kelley said as Seymour gets ready to begin the New Year with a new police chief, he’d be remiss not to laud Satkowski.
“We must, without question, thank Chief Paul Satkowski for his many years of service to the department, the town and the community,” Kelley said. “What he has done over the years will not be forgotten. We sincerely thank Chief Satkowski and we wish nothing but the best for him and his family as he enters retirement.”
