Thomas Kulhawik Sworn In as City's Ninth Police Chief [Update: Video]

Thomas Kulhawik became the city's ninth police chief Wednesday afternoon at a swearing in ceremony in City Hall's Community Room.

At the same ceremony, David Wrinn,49, was sworn in as deputy chief. He previously was a lieutenant.

The Community Room was packed with onlookers, many standing, including police chiefs from other Connecticut departments.

After being sworn in by Mayor Richard Moccia, Kulhawik, 49, told the audience, "Becoming chief is not the end of a long road for me, I consider it only the beginning."

Former Chief Harry W. Rilling attended the ceremony, and Kulhawik thanked him for sharing his institutional knowledge and experience, especially over the last five years he served as deputy chief.

Rilling resigned June 21 to take a job in the private sector.

He also thanked former deputy chief Mark Palmer "for teaching me the importance of mentoring junior officers and for mentoring me throughout my career."

Palmer became police chief of the Town of Coventry in 2006.

Kulhawik spoke about his family; his children, Evan and Taylor, and his wife, Julie, who were sitting in the front row. Looking at his wife, Kulhawik said, "You know that you're much more than my better half, you're also my best friend, and the reason I love coming home everyday.

Kulhawik's brother Edward, who is chief of the Eastham, MA, police department on Cape Cod, pinned the chief's shield on his uniform. Edward Kulhawik is the former chief of the Wilton Police Department.

Kulhawik has been serving as acting chief since Chief Harry W. Rilling announced his resignation from the department. He joined the department at age 19 in July 1983 and was appointed deputy chief in November 2007. He lives in Stratford.

Wrinn joined the department in August 1984. He was promoted to lieutenant in September 2006.

His brother, Eugene, is the police chief in Brattleboro, VT.

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