The Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut will honor Orange police Chief Robert Gagne, North Branford Chief Matthew Canelli and Berlin Chief Paul Fitzgerald with the Distinguished Chiefs Award at a banquet on May 26.

Gagne, shown in photo, began his career with the Orange Police Department in 1978 as a part-time civilian dispatcher while still in high school. He was sworn in as a supernumerary officer in 1980 and attended the Milford Police Academy in 1981, graduating first in his class.

He was sworn in as a full-time officer in June 1981 and rose through the ranks, being promoted to sergeant in January 1987 and lieutenant in November 1987.

He served as the shift commander for all three shifts in the department prior to being assigned as the commander of the Investigative Services Unit in August 2000. He was promoted to assistant chief in July 2003 and chief in June 2006.
Gagne has been awarded the department’s Lifesaving Medal, Exceptional Service Award, and several letters of commendation. He has also been awarded the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Samuel Luciano Award. He is a graduate of the University of New Haven with a bachelor’s of science degree in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Administration, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in leadership at Albertus Magnus College.
Gagne also is a member of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association and serves on the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Highway Safety Committee. He was recently nominated to serve on the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Board of Directors.
The banquet, to be held at St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road in Orange, begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $38 and can be purchased by contacting Betty Paquin at 203-481-3330 or bpaquin@marcuslawfirm.com.
Canelli began his career with the North Branford Police Department in October 1970, when it only had six police officers. By 1976 the department had grown to a total of 10 officers and Canelli was appointed to the detective division. Two years later, he was promoted to the rank of detective sergeant and supervised investigations for an additional two years. In 1980 he moved back to the patrol division, where he worked as a shift supervisor until he was promoted to chief in 1984, when he was 34. He has held the job since then.