Divisions | Office of the Chief
Office of the Chief
Francisco Ortiz, Chief of Police
Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Contact Number: 203-946-6333
Chief Francisco Ortiz
The Chief of Police establishes the philosophical foundation for the department and is ultimately responsible for public safety and policing in the City of New Haven. More specifically, the chief is responsible for the overall management of the department, including major areas of personnel administration, training, fiscal management, and policy formulation. He is supported by the Assistant Chief of Police who directly oversees the patrol and investigative functions on a day-to-day basis. Clerical staff is responsible for maintaining the schedules of the chief and assistant chief, correspondence, directing telephone inquiries, and other duties that result in the efficient and effective operation of the Office of the Chief.
The functions under the direct purview of the Office of the Chief are Fiscal Services, Human Resources, Internal Values & Ethics, Public Information, and Support Services. The Chief's office can be reached during regular business hours, Monday thru Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, at 203-946-6333.
Francisco Ortiz began his career with the New Haven Police Department as a patrolman in 1978, over twenty-five years ago. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Police in April of 2003, the first Latino to attain the second in command enforcement position. After the former chief unexpectedly retired at the end of April, Ortiz was then named Acting Chief of Police. Prior to this appointment, he had attained the rank of Captain and served as the Community Patrol Operations Resource Coordinator. He has worked his way up through every rank and has been assigned to every major unit within the department.
Chief Ortiz earned a Master's Degree in Law Enforcement Administration from the University of New Haven. He is a graduate of the highly selective FBI National Academy, 170th Session, in Quantico, Virginia. In addition, Ortiz was selected to attend the prestigious Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, which is administered through the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). He also attended the inaugural class of the Management Training Institute, a joint initiative between Yale University and the City of New Haven.
Chief Ortiz is a Senior Fellow and one of the founders of Yale Child Study Center's Child Development/Community Policing Program (CDCP). This fellowship is designed to provide police personnel with the special psychological expertise needed in dealing with children and families who are witness to, or victims of, violent crime. It is now being replicated throughout the United States as well as in several European countries.
An early proponent of the community policing philosophy, Francisco Ortiz has extensive involvement in the community as a volunteer, board member, department liaison and in other leadership roles. He is a Board of Directors member for several organizations including the Community Consultation Center, Easter Seals/Goodwill Industries and the New Haven Labor Day Road Race. He has been a part of the Connecticut Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Chief Ortiz is a member of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and the Connecticut Puerto Rican Parade Committee.
Chief Francisco Ortiz is an active member of the National Latino Peace Officers Association and the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association. He is a strong advocate for the New Haven Police Department's Hispanic Officers Association, and more importantly, he stands as a role model for all young officers to emulate, no matter what their race, creed or color.
