In Episode 428 of Mic’d In New Haven — The Beat: Profiles of Police Nationwide (Volume 26) — New Haven Police Chief David Zannelli discusses two challenges facing departments across the country: recruiting good police officers and giving them reasons to stay.
For Zannelli, one of New Haven’s greatest strengths is opportunity.
An officer can begin on patrol and build an entirely different career within the same department — pursuing specialized assignments, investigative units, federal task forces, supervisory positions, command roles, and other avenues for professional growth.
Zannelli’s own career is an example of that path, having risen through the department from patrol officer to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief and ultimately Chief of Police.
It’s a conversation about recruitment, retention, and creating an organization where officers don’t necessarily have to look elsewhere for their next challenge — because opportunities to grow may already exist within their own department.
Outro Song: Gin Blossoms – Alison Road (1992)
VIEW INTERVIEW HERE:
Mike Colón Media 
Leave a comment