July 13, 2018: Subsequent to the recent retirement of North Branford Police Chief Matthew Canelli, Mayor Michael Doody and the members of the North Branford Police Commission are pleased to announce that the current Lieutenant James Lovelace will serve the community as the Acting Chief of Police and Detective Sergeant Sean Anderson will serve as the acting Lieutenant.  Both men are lifelong residents of North Branford and products of the North Branford School System.

Acting Chief Lovelace has an undergraduate degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and is currently enrolled in a graduate degree in criminal justice at the same university.  He has been a member of the North Branford Police Department since 2004.  Among many tasks that he has undertaken during his tenure in the Department Acting Chief Lovelace implemented the dispatch center upgrade, has conducted internal affairs investigations, and recently supervised the installation of a new telephone system.  He also manages the dispatch center, is a member of the South Central Regional Tactical Unit, is a member and assistant team leader of the South Central Regional Traffic Unit, maintains the qualifications for school security personnel, and coordinates all special events. Acting Chief Lovelace has also received many awards for his service in law enforcement.

Acting Lieutenant Sean Anderson has been a member of the North Branford Police Department since 2003.  He has an Associate's Degree from Dean College in Massachusetts, and earned credits in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.  In his position of Detective Sergeant Acting Lieutenant Sean Anderson has supervised officers assigned to the Detective Bureau, conducted criminal investigations and performed a variety of administrative functions. In addition, Acting Lieutenant Sean Anderson is also a Tactical Team Leader and Officer among many other assignments and duties.  He has also received a number of awards for his service.

The members of the North Branford Police Commission believe that the Police Department is in capable hands with these two Police Department leaders while the search for a new Chief of Police is undertaken.