He’s officially Branford’s new deputy chief of police, but Jonathan Mulhern said he will always owe a debt of gratitude to the North Haven Police Department (NHPD) for the opportunities and experiences which allowed him to move ahead in his nearly 26-year career.

On July 9, with his family looking on, Mulhern was officially sworn in at Branford Police Headquarters. Mulhern came to Branford from a strong career with NHPD, where he’d served as deputy police chief since 2011. Mulhern joined NHPD in 1992 as a patrol officer and was promoted to sergeant in 1999. He transferred to the Traffic Division in 2002, and from 2004 to 2006 served as a supervisor in the department’s Detective Division. Prior to becoming deputy chief, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2008.

Mulhern said he has no doubt the professionalism of NHPD built a reputation that helped catch the eye of the Branford Police Commission during its search for a deputy chief. The commission reviewed 26 applications and interviewed eight candidates.

“One of the things that helped me move ahead and go to Branford was the day-in and day-out tremendous work that the men and women of the North Haven Police Department do,” Mulhern said.

In his experience, Mulhern said, “the people on the ground have an impact. A big belief of mine is that every contact counts. They can truly make or break the success of the organization.”

Mulhern said he’s also grateful for the opportunities and guidance he received working with NHPD Chief Thomas J. McLoughlin.

“Chief McLoughlin gave me the opportunity to grow and get involved in things that a lot of assistant chiefs don’t normally get to do,” said Mulhern. “He’s the kind of leader that leads from behind. That’s also contributed to the success of the department’s succession plan and leadership.”

Mulhern’s administrative role with NHPD most recently had him working along with the town and First Selectman Michael Freda to bring about North Haven’s $18 million police headquarters upgrade project. The project broke ground at 8 Linsley Street in March and construction remains underway.

“It’s on track and in very good hands,” said Mulhern. “I wish I could have seen it to the finish line, but it’s something I know that everyone there is very proud of, and the support from the community we got was great.”

Speaking to Zip06/North Haven Courier in Branford on July 13, Mulhern said if you take away the shoreline, there are a lot of comparisons to be made between North Haven and Branford.

“I see a lot of similarities in the town and the community, and the way the officers conduct themselves,” he said of Branford. “I do feel right at home, even though I’ve only been here for 10 days.”

He described Branford as a “progressive department” and noted he’d spent his first days on the job working closely with Branford Police Chief Kevin Halloran to get a “360-degree view” of the department.

“I’m excited about what I’ve seen so far. I think I can bring some new ideas, and coming from the outside offers me a chance to see it from a different light. I think there’s some benefit in that,” said Mulhern.

Arriving from a department that made great gains in its succession plan and currently has its community outreach at “all time high,” Mulhern said he’s looking forward to helping Branford police “continue to build the trust with the community and garner support.”

He’s also looking forward to helping augment officer training and teamwork development to respond to ever-changing law enforcement challenges and scenarios police face in this day and age. In North Haven, Mulhern was a key player in NHPD’s participation in training and teamwork including South Central Regional SWAT (serving as commander for nine years). He also serves as law enforcement vice chairman for the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s Regional Emergency Planning Team Steering Committee.

“I think I bring a skill set where I can enhance some of the things they already do,” said Mulhern. “We’ve all chased bad guys done and some wonderful things, but for me, seeing the progress of those that work for me is one of my biggest rewards in the job.”