Newington Town Hall history

646 Main Street - a lovely Victorian Italianate house that was built by John Kirkham for his bride when he returned to Newington from the 1849 California Gold Rush.

Newington was part of the Town of Wethersfield until 1871.

Read through the police department history starting in 1934 to today.

The building was named “The Lucy Robbins Welles Library” in honor of Miss Welles’ mother and opened its doors to the public in 1939.

On August 28, 1947, during a special town meeting held in the high school auditorium, the previously functioning police constabulary was replaced by an organized police department.

On June 27, 1956, the first set of Rules and Regulations governing members of the department was adopted by the Board of Police Commissioners.

In January of 1965, the department’s first Police Canine Unit was established.

By 1966 population increase had outgrown government by the town meeting and the Council-Manager form of government was adopted.

Chief McCusker retired on October 10, 1967.

On February 27, 1968, Philip R. Lincoln became Newington’s 3rd Chief of Police.

In 1971, the Newington Police Department moved from the old Town Hall on Main Street into their new quarters on the ground floor of the new Town Hall (the renovated old High School).

In 1972 the department consisted of 38 full time sworn officers, 4 civilian, 14 supernumerary officers and 30 school crossing guards.

In 1973 the department joined the Statewide Information Access System.

In 1974 a federal grant allowed the department to hire a civilian court liaison and share the costs with the towns of Rocky Hill and Wethersfield.

In 1975 Captain Paul Palmquist retired and the rank has not been filled since.

In 1978 the department management information system reveals that a crime is reported on average of every 4 hours and a call for service is received every 30 minutes.

In 1980, the department assisted the United States Secret Service in providing dignitary protection for President Jimmy Carter and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy during their visits to Newington.

In 1981, Chief Lincoln resigned from the Newington Police Department to become the Chief of Police in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

In 1983, department officers were certified in advanced first aid and became the town’s first responders to all medical emergencies.

On November 10, 1989, officers responded to a report of a hostage incident at a local residence on Robbins Avenue.

In 1990, the department’s Emergency Response Team is formed.

In 1994, Chief Thomas Ganley retires and Lt.

On March 6, 1998, at approximately 8:45 in the morning, the Newington Police Department began receiving multiple 911 calls reporting an “active shooter” at the Connecticut Lottery Headquarters on Alumni Road.

In 1999, Eileen Cormier wrote a "A Brief History of Library Services in Newington" in response to a discussion she had with former library director Marian Amodeo and two others about "Who were the previous librarians?" Read A Brief History of Library Services in Newington (PDF)

In 2001, Officer Ciara McDermott was assigned to the Newington High School as Newington’s first School Resource Officer (SRO) under a four year federal grant.

In 2002, Chief Richard C. Mulhall was sworn in as Newington’s 6th Chief of Police.

On September 1st, 2004 a ground breaking ceremony took place for the new police department.

The finishing touches are done on the new police department in August 2005.

On July 6, 2015 Stephen Clark was sworn in as Newington's 7th and current Chief of Police.

In 2016, the department created a Civilian Evidence/Property Technician position, which is responsible for receiving, cataloging, and maintaining property and evidence seized by the police department.