Fernando C. Spagnolo, Chief of Police

Fernando C. Spagnolo joined the Waterbury Police Department in July of 1992. During his tenure, he has served in the Patrol Division, Motorcycle Unit, Tactical Narcotics Team, Vice and Intelligence Division, Extra Duty and Licensing and as Aide to the Chief of Police. He also has participated in several projects and investigations with both the State and Federal Departments of Homeland Security.

Education & Training

Chief Spagnolo attended Saint Joseph’s College in Portland, Maine where he concentrated his studies in Criminal Justice and Psychology. He is currently pursuing a criminal justice degree at Post University.

Chief Spagnolo has attended numerous training courses throughout the country, focusing in the areas of Terrorism and Critical Infrastructure Assessment. He is certified by the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council as an instructor in the areas of anti-terrorism training as well as crimes motivated by bigotry and bias.

Additionally, Chief Spagnolo is a certified instructor in the areas of incident response to terrorist bombings and prevention of suicide bombings. The court recognizes him as an expert witness on the topics of narcotics and illicit drugs.

Chief Spagnolo is a graduate of the 69th session of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development School in Quantico, Virginia and was honored with Excellent Police Duty medals in both 1994 and 1996.

Within the Department

In February of 1998, Spagnolo was promoted to Detective and assigned to the Vice and Intelligence Division. In July 2003 he was promoted to Sergeant and then assigned to the Chief’s Office as the liaison to the State and Federal Departments of Homeland Security.

By May 2006, Spagnolo was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of the Extra Duty and Licensing Division and shortly thereafter, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and reassigned as the Aide to the Chief of Police.

Currently, Chief Spagnolo serves as President of the Police Activity League of Waterbury, Inc. and is on the Board of Directors of Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB), a member of the NVCC Regional Advisory Council, and a member of the Waterbury chapter of Kiwanis.