The Criminology and Criminal Justice Department has partnered with regional police chiefs and executives to create a police consortium and executive police fellowship program. These police executive fellows serve on an advisory board and are directly involved in creating the public safety tract within the criminology major. Students will benefit from instruction tailored to the needs of 21st-century law enforcement professionals. This program bridges the gulf between the practical and applied skills required to work in law enforcement and general academic instruction. Moreover, it allows the department to recognize area police executives that demonstrate key leadership skills critical for advancing policing in Connecticut.
Meet the 2022-2024 Executive Police Fellows serving on the Police Advisory Board
Chief Christopher Chute
New Britain Police Department
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Chief Christopher Chute is a 26-year veteran of law enforcement and the inaugural Chief of Police for CT State Community College.  Chief Chute oversees public safety for the 12 Campuses across Connecticut that comprise CT State Community College.  Prior to his current role, he was the Chief of Police for the New Britain Police Department. He is born and raised in New Britain, CT graduating from New Britain High School. Chief Chute earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pol. Science/Public Administration and a Master of Science Degree in Computer Information Technology from Central.
Chief Chute began his career at the New Britain Police Department as a patrol officer in 1996. He worked in numerous assignments. Chief Chute was promoted to Detective in 2002 and graduated as a polygraph examiner from the Texas Department of Public Safety Polygraph School in 2003. In 2004, he began working as a Digital Forensic Examiner analyzing cell phones and computers for criminal investigations. He has conducted examinations on digital devices for investigations ranging from high profile homicides to simple harassment cases. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2008. Chief Chute was promoted to Lieutenant and oversaw the Criminal Investigations Division for short period of time until he was promoted to Captain. As a newly promoted Captain, his assignment was Commander of the Professional Standards Division. He led the New Britain Police Recruit Academy, Training Division, Traffic Safety Bureau, Internal Affairs, Animal Control, and Evidence Unit. In 2016 Chief Chute attended the Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development School and graduated first in his class, receiving the Director’s Award for having the highest academic average in his class. In 2017 and appointed A Chief of Police on March 27, 2019.
Chris Chute is also an Associate Professor at Post University teaching several online and in person classes. Chris is a former Adjunct Professor at Central.
Chief Stephen Clark
Newington Police Department
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Chief Stephen Clark is a 36 year veteran of law enforcement having served with both the Newington Police Department and the Vernon Police Department. Chief Clark retired from the Newington Police Department after 21 years of service where he served as a Field Training Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Commander of the Patrol, Investigative, and Support Services Divisions. In January 2007, he was appointed second in command of the Vernon Police Department where he also served as the Commander of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team. Chief Clark returned to the Newington Police Department in July of 2015, when he was appointed Chief of Police.
Chief Clark is a graduate of Lesley University and earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Central Connecticut State University. He is also a graduate of the 188th session of the FBI National Academy.
Mark Davison
Connecticut State Police
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Mark Davison is a seventeen-year veteran with the Connecticut State Police, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has served the majority of his career in Major Crime, primarily as a Crime Scene Detective and Supervisor. Following promotion, he commanded the Troop L barracks, the Training Academy, the Western District and is currently the Commander of the Office of Administrative Services. Capt. Davison holds certifications from the IAI in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Crime Scene Reconstruction and actively assists with BPA and shooting reconstruction casework. He is also an adjunct professor teaching forensic science, crime scene investigation and bloodstain pattern analysis. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering from the US Naval Academy and a Master’s in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven and served for 8 years as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Chief Alaric J. Fox
Enfield Police Department
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Chief Alaric J. Fox was sworn in as the 15th Chief of the Enfield Police Department on March 12, 2018. Chief Fox entered into service with the Enfield Police Department after a 24-year career with the Connecticut State Police. During that time has worked as a Patrol Trooper, a Resident Trooper, a Training Academy Staff Instructor, a Patrol Sergeant, a Resident Trooper Sergeant, and as a Sergeant in the Legal Affairs Unit on the Commissioner’s Staff. In 2004, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, thereafter serving as the Commanding Officer of Troop “C” Tolland, and later as the Commandant of the State Police Training Academy. In 2010, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Captain where he served as the Commanding Officer of the Bureau of Selections and Training and later as the Commanding Officer of the Professional Standards Unit. In 2011, Chief Fox was promoted to the rank of Major where he served as the Chief of Staff to two State Police Colonels. On April 1, 2016, Chief Fox was promoted to the position as Colonel of the Connecticut State Police and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, a position that he held until his retirement from state service.
Chief Fox began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Willimantic Police Department, serving in this capacity for seven years, and as an FBI Agent, serving in this capacity for two years. Additionally, Chief Fox was employed for a two-year period as an attorney in private practice, specializing in a variety of labor and employment law matters.
Chief Fox has lectured across the country, over the past twenty-three years, to a wide array of law enforcement and collegiate audiences, in subject areas including Criminal Law, Careers in Criminal Justice, Police Civil Liability, Labor and Employment Law, and Police Criminal Procedure.
Chief Fox holds a Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration from the University of New Haven, and a Juris Doctor Degree, magna cum laude, from Western New England University School of Law, having additionally studied for one semester at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Virginia, as well as the FBI National Executive Institute. In his spare time Chief Fox has completed twenty (and counting!) marathons, twice breaking the elusive three-hour barrier.
Chief Kristian R. Lindstrom
South Windsor Police Department
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Chief Kristian R. Lindstrom was hired as a police officer at the South Windsor Police Department in August of 1998. Throughout his career, he has served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Training and Recruiting Coordinator, School Resource Officer, Patrol Supervisor, Criminal Investigations Unit Manager, Special Services Division Commander, and Deputy Chief of Police. Kristian has also previously served as a Hostage/Crisis Negotiator with the Capital Region Emergency Services Team.
For several years he worked as a member of the department’s Use of Force Instructor Team and to this day he maintains several instructor endorsements. Throughout his career, he has taught police officers of varying experience levels in the following areas: Use of Force, Firearms, Shooting Decisions, Arrest and Control Techniques, Taser, Handcuffing Techniques, Vehicle Stop Tactics, and Building Search Tactics. He has taught as an adjunct instructor at the Connecticut Police Academy and in the private sector.
In addition to his position as an Executive Police Fellow at Central Connecticut State University, he is currently a member of the Town of South Windsor Pension Committee, the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) Law Enforcement Advisory Board, the Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board, and he is the 2022-2023 President of the Capitol Region Chiefs of Police Association.
Kristian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts and a Master’s Degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. He is also a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officers Development Course offered through the University of Louisville.
He has been the recipient of three Lifesaving Awards, two Chief’s Awards, two Physical Fitness Awards, and multiple Certificates of Commendation.
When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two teen-aged sons.
Chief Rafael Medina, III
Wethersfield Police Department
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Rafael has served as the Chief of Police with the Wethersfield, Connecticut Police Department since November 2021. His previous service includes Assistant Chief of Police with the Hartford, Connecticut Police Department from 2018-2021, posts with the Connecticut State Police as a Commanding Officer-Lieutenant of Troop K in Colchester, Connecticut from 2016 to 2018, Commanding Officer-Lieutenant of the Central District Major Crime Unit from 2015-2016, previously serving as the Unit’s Supervisor-Sergeant from 2014-2015. Other Connecticut State Police positions 1997-2014 included service as a Sergeant in Professional Standards-Internal Affairs, Sergeant Troop H, Major Crime Detective, Community Development Trooper, and Patrol Trooper. He also served as a Patrol Officer with the Southern Connecticut State University Police Department from 1996 to 1997. His military background includes serving as a Rifleman (E-4, Corporal) with the United States Marine Corps/Reserves from 1990 to 1998.
Medina holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Central Connecticut State University, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Sacred Heart University, Graduate Certificates in Homeland Security Management from the University of Saint Joseph, and Police Executive Leadership Development from the University of Louisville, and is a graduate of The Southern Police Institute, 145th Administrative Officers Course. He is a member of the Southern Police Institute Alumni Association (SPIAA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA). He is the recipient of the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal, Connecticut State Police Meritorious Service Medal, Life-Saving Medal, Outstanding Service Medal, and numerous Unit Citation with the Connecticut State Police. He is also the recipient of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award.
Marshall S. Porter
Glastonbury Police Department
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Marshall S. Porter is the Chief of Police in Glastonbury, Connecticut, appointed in November 2017. Chief Porter has been a police officer since 1989. He previously served as the Captain/Executive Officer in Farmington, Connecticut (1994-2017), and as a patrol officer in the Winchester, New Hartford, and Harwinton Police Departments.
Chief Porter has held the rank of Narcotics Detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, and Lieutenant during his career with the Farmington Police Department. He has represented the Connecticut Police Chiefs’ Association on the Private Security Committee, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and the Governor’s Sexual Assault Kit Working Group. He has served as the President of the Capital Region Chiefs of Police Association and sits on the Connecticut Police Chiefs’ Association Board of Directors.
Chief Porter has earned an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northwestern Connecticut Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Finance from Central Connecticut University, and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Central Connecticut University.
Chief Jason Thody
Hartford Police Department
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Jason Thody became Chief of the Hartford Police Department on March 2, 2020. He began his career with Hartford as a Police Cadet in 1996, and graduated from the Connecticut Police Academy in 1997. Since then, he has risen through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Captain and was appointed Assistant Chief and then Interim Chief. In his prior position as Assistant Chief of Professional Standards and Administration, he oversaw Internal Affairs, Inspections, the Training Academy, Career Development (including Recruitment, PAL, Cadets and Explorers), Personnel, Fiscal Management, Planning and Accreditation, and Administrative Services (including Crime Analysis, Fleet, Court Support Services, Records, and Property Control). In this capacity, he led the Department’s effort to acquire body-worn cameras from procurement, through acquisition, to implementation which began in February of 2019. He also served as the Department Liaison to City Council, Special Advocate for serious disciplinary cases, and a voting member of the Firearms Discharge Board of Inquiry; reviewing officer-involved shootings for compliance with policy and law.
Chief Thody is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 282nd Session of the National Academy, the Southern Police Institute’s 135th Administrative Officers Course, the Police Executive Research Forum’s 60th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police, and FBI-LEEDA’s 183rd Executive Leadership Institute. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Tunxis Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Safety from the University of Virginia. He has also held a Certified Litigation Specialist distinction from Americans for Effective Law Enforcement. Chief Thody resides in Hartford with his wife Victoria and his three dogs, Badger, Honey and Brie.
Chief Vernon L. Riddick
West Hartford Police Department
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West Hartford Police Chief Vernon L. Riddick Jr. has been in public safety for 29 years, serving as the Chief of West Hartford since 2018. Prior to joining the West Hartford Police Department he served 24 years in the City of Waterbury Police Department where he spent his last five years there as Chief. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Tufts University in Boston. Chief Riddick attended Rutgers University Law School and earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Post University. Chief Riddick is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association’s Command Institute and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute of Police. Chief Riddick is also a graduate of the 79th Session of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar.
Chief Riddick is a member of numerous boards and organizations. He is a Vice-President of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) and is a member of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC), which oversees training and certification for all municipal police officers in the State of Connecticut. Lastly, Chief Riddick currently serves as the President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and he is an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven.