Chief of Police
Chief Keith L. Mello
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 6 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 4 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
He 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.
Chief Mello is a Past President for the South Central Connecticut Police Chief’s Association and he currently serves as a Director with the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association.
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.
!n 2006, he was named the Italian-American of the Year by the Columbus Committee. In May 2009, Chief Mello received the Distinguished Chief’s Award, presented by the Police Commissioner’s Association of Connecticut.
Chief Mello has a Bachelor Degree in Business Management and a Masters’ in Business Administration from the University of New Haven.
He is a veteran of the United States Army and the Unites States Marine Corps Reserve.
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