Guilford Board of Police Commissioners Chair Robert Welsh has announced that Deputy Chief of Police Warren “Butch” Hyatt, Jr., has been selected for the position of chief of police, effective Aug. 22. He succeeds Jeff Hutchinson, whose retirement is effective the same day.

Hyatt has been serving as deputy chief of the department since April 3, 2017. He began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the City of Milford, before soon joining the Connecticut State Police. Starting as a patrol trooper, Hyatt moved up the ranks as a detective, sergeant, lieutenant,and major, before reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel (second in command) in charge of Field Operations. He retired from the Connecticut State Police in 2016 after serving there for 28 years.

Deputy Chief Hyatt holds a B.S. in Public Safety Administration from Charter Oak State College and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business Public Safety Management Program. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and currently serves as the director of law enforcement services for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).

“We are thrilled that Butch Hyatt has agreed to take on the role of police chief,” said First Selectman Matt Hoey. “We are fortunate to have someone with Butch’s vast experience and reputation in the law enforcement community lead our highly regarded and accredited department.”