WILTON – Selectmen have scheduled a special board meeting Friday, to consider appointing E. Page Reynolds to the position of police chief, on an interim basis.
Reynolds served the town as lieutenant for roughly 1.5 years and earned substantial credit from Police Chief Dennis Brown and Town Manager Rhonda Irish for both his investigative work and for using more than two decades of police experience to benefit new officers with the Wilton Police Department. Reynolds, who often commuted between Wilton and his family in Connecticut, resigned in early January.
Irish said she was recommending Reynolds serve the town as police chief on an interim basis, as selectmen explore options.
“He’s familiar with the town, the department, and the officers respect him,” Irish said of Reynolds. She noted that if approved he could start next week, giving Reynolds a chance to spend a week with Brown and enabling a smoother transition.
She did not have a time line for Reynolds’ interim position, saying that selectmen had stated they both “strongly support the current department” and were “exploring all options for our police department.”
Brown’s last day is scheduled for March 14, although he has said he’d stay into the third week, if needed. Brown accepted the Director of Public Safety position at Folly Beach, S.C., which oversees the police, fire and beach patrol. The move is to be closer to his family, some of whom are facing serious illnesses.
Tomorrow’s meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., with consideration of the appointment as the only item on the agenda. Assuming selectmen support the hiring of Reynolds as interim police chief, that would leave two vacancies in the Wilton Police Department; a patrolman position and a sergeant’s position.
i thought that he was leaving too??
I thought Mr. Reynolds resigned to be closure to his family as he was traveling several hours each way – so what has changed?
The town should hire him as the full-time chief if he would accept the position and give him a nice raise. He would be well worth it for the town of Wilton.
That is awesome. Welcome back Reynolds I agree with Milltown.
This is starting to read like a 10 cent novel.
I totally Agree lets do something good for our Town. Reynolds was and will be a wonderful resource for Wilton. It is great to hear now that Brown is leaving he is willing to come back. This is one citizen who hopes we can get a working police department for our Town.
I thought Reynolds left because the time away from his family was too much. I remember the news reporting he was driving several hours a day to work. If we hire him, will Wilton only lose him again as the traveling and distance from his family will be too much again? Why aren’t we looking for someone who will live in the area?
Reynolds left, Brown is leaving? Give a local guy a chance to advance.They left for a reason.