Achieving His Aspirations [Video] [Update]

Updated: 11 a.m., June 25:

The swearing-in of Greenwich Police Capt. James Heavey as the department's next deputy chief has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28 at Greenwich Police Headquarters, 11 Bruce Pl.

Original story:

As he rose through the ranks of the Greenwich Police Department, James Heavey dreamed of one day leading the department.

That dream came one step closer to reality Thursday when he was tapped as the department’s next deputy chief – an appointment that puts him on an almost certain track to become the next chief of the department. It’s no secret that the current chief, David Ridberg, will retire next year. And town officials have said they expect the deputy chief will succeed Ridberg.

Ridberg is an example of history that will repeat itself. He was appointed deputy chief just months before he was appointed chief five years ago.

Heavey said he wasn’t informed of his promotion until 4:21 p.m. Thursday when Ridberg told him to join him for a ride to Greenwich Town Hall, where the Board of Selectmen were to hold a special meeting and vote on the appointment. “I called my wife but I haven’t told the rest of the family yet,” said Heavey as he accepted hearty congratulations from co-workers and town officials following the brief meeting.

The 50-year-old Heavey was one of three finalists selected for interviews conducted by the selectmen, Ridberg, human resources director Maureen Kast, and Town Administrator John Crary on Tuesday. The other finalists were Captains Mark Kordick of the professional standards division and Mark Marino, the detective division commander. They along with Capt. Timothy Berry, head of the department’s operations division, took a written exam and were interviewed by an outside assessment firm on May 25.

Heavey has spent his 25-year career in the patrol division where is commander of the 93-officer unit. A veteran of 20 years service in the Army Reserves, having served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Heavey said, “You have ups and downs but you always would like to aspire to be chief. It was always something in my mind … It’s awesome.”

A lifelong Greenwich resident, who now resides in the Glenville section of town, Heavey said of his colleagues, “We all have a great deal of mutual respect for one another. This is a very high level professional organization.”

It is expected that with Heavey’s appointment, which is effective July 1, the department’s upper echelon will be restructured and some duties reassigned among the three captains and deputy chief. A swearing-in ceremony has not been scheduled, but could take place as early as next week, according to First Selectman Peter Tesei.

The deputy chief’s salary range is $97,542 to $146,312.

Tesei said that while all of the candidates would have been good appointments, Heavey’s ties to the Greenwich community weighed heavily in his selection.

“It’s the fact that he has presided as commander of the patrol division … he has an intimate relationship with the Greenwich community, he has an understanding of the direction the Greenwich Police Department is moving in,” Tesei said. “The expectation is that he will work in partnership with the chief to build upon the successes (the department) has,” Tesei added.

That knowledge of the Greenwich community dates back to when Heavey was a 16-year-old who joined the Glenville Volunteer Fire Department. He retired earlier this week as  the department’s chief.  In 1981, Heavey was hired as police dispatcher. The following year, he became a special police officer, a post he held for five years until he was hired as a patrolman. He was promoted to sergeant in 1999 and lieutenant in 2003. Heavey has held many assignments while in the patrol division and has been involved in training, emergency management and planning.

Tesei said that the selectmen expect the deputy chief will succeed Ridberg, 49, who is expected to retire next year.

Earlier this month, Heavey earned a master’s degree in public administration from Belleview University, an online college geared to police and military, Heavey said. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University.

He and his wife Kia, have two children – Anna, 11, and James, 10.

Editor's note: this story was updated to correct the date of the swearing-in ceremony.