Chief of Police - Keith L. Mello

Administrative Assistant Marcia Krusewski
Contact: Milford Police Department
430 Boston Post Road, Milford, Connecticut, 06460
(203) 783-4768
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Keith Mello entered the Milford Police Academy in January 1981 and graduated in June of that year. He began his career as a patrol officer.  During his six years assigned to the Patrol Division he served as a K-9 handler, a member of the SWAT Team, and the Police Honor Guard. He also served as the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Milford Regional Police Academy.  

On August 4, 1988, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in the Detective and Patrol Divisions before being assigned to the Statewide Narcotics Task Force as an investigator and undercover narcotics officer for four years.

In 1992 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served in the Patrol Division and later in the Detective Division. In 1993 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned as the Division Commander for the Detective Division.

On April 15, 2006, he was appointed the 9th Chief of Police in the history of the Milford Police Department.

Chief Mello is the recipient of the Medal of Merit (the department’s second highest award), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Lifesaving Award and several Commendations. In 1992 he was awarded the Robert F. Stankye Memorial Award by the Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association. In addition, he has received commendation awards from the West Haven and Yale University Police Departments. In May 2009 Chief Mello received the Distinguished Chief’s Award, presented by the Police Commissioner’s Association of Connecticut.

In September of 1997 Chief Mello graduated from the 190th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. In 2009 Chief Mello attended the 57th Session of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School, also in Quantico, VA.

Chief Mello is the immediate Past President of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association.

In 2013 Chief Mello was appointed by Governor Dannel P. Malloy to serve on the Police Officer Standards and Training Council for the State of Connecticut. Chief Mello currently serves as the Chairman of the Council.

In 2021, Chief Mello was re-appointed to the POST Council as the Chairman by Governor Ned Lamont.

Currently, Chief Mello is a member of the Legislative Task Force on Police Transparency and Accountability and the Connecticut Bar Association Task Force Policing Task Force.  Further, he serves on the Legislative Task Force on Eyewitness ID and Emerging Technologies.

Chief Mello serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.

Chief Mello has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of New Haven.

He is a veteran of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps Reserve.