Malloy Taps Bradford As Top Cop

First Dan Malloy named Timothy Bannon as chief of staff, Ben Barnes as budget chief and state Supreme Court Justice Joette Katz as commissioner of the Department of Children and Families. Today the governor elect named Reuben Bradford Connecticut’s first African American commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.

Bradford comes off serving as the NFL’s senior director of security. He retired as state police major in 1996. As commissioner his responsibilities include supervision of the state police, the state fire marshal’s office and crime lab. Bradford has extensive experience supervising state narcotics cases in Bridgeport. I’m familiar with Bradford from my book Chased that details the undercover work of retired Bridgeport police officer Billy Chase who was assigned to state and federal cases. Bradford supervised cases that Chase worked. He’s smart, skilled with tons of law enforcement experience. From Dan Malloy:

GOVERNOR-ELECT MALLOY SELECTS RETIRED STATE POLICE MAJOR REUBEN BRADFORD TO LEAD DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor-Elect Dan Malloy today selected former State Police Major Reuben Bradford to lead the Department of Public Safety, which is comprised of three divisions: the Division of State Police, the Division of Fire, Emergency and Building Services and the Division of Scientific Services. Bradford retired from the Connecticut State Police in 1996, after 22 years of service. Since then, he has been the Senior Director of Security for the National Football League (NFL). Bradford will join Governor-Elect Malloy’s administration in April 2011. Until then, Commissioner James Thomas will remain at the department on an interim basis.

“Reuben Bradford’s extensive experience in law enforcement, combined with his more recent experience as a senior member of a private security team for what amounts to a multi-billion dollar corporation, will serve him well as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety,” said Governor-Elect Malloy. “Reuben’s professionalism, on-the-job training and an insider’s knowledge of the department itself will help him expand upon the good service these men and women are already performing, and identify and fix what can be done more effectively to keep Connecticut residents as safe as possible.”

“I’m honored to join Governor-Elect Malloy’s administration, and look forward to working with him on issues of safety, security, and improving the quality of life for Connecticut residents,” said Bradford. “For 22 years, I served the people of the State of Connecticut, and I look forward to returning to that public service now. The men and women who work at the Department of Public Safety do important work, and I’m looking forward to being there with them once again.”

Throughout his time in the Connecticut State Police, Bradford had numerous assignments and commands, including as a patrol trooper, a commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which included narcotics, organized crime, casino gambling and intelligence, a commanding officer of the central and eastern districts of the State of Connecticut and Chief of Staff for Commissioner Bernard Sullivan. As the Senior Director of Security for the NFL, Bradford assisted with all facets of corporate and professional sports security, and supervises numerous security personnel across the country. Bradford lives in South Glastonbury with his wife, Arvett, with whom he has three children.