Police chief dies; served more than 30 years

Staff report

WEATHERSFIELD

Joseph P. Consiglio, who served for more than 30 years with the Weathersfield Police Department, died Sunday morning, according to the police department and trustees.

He was chief for the past 12 years.

Consiglio officially retired Jan. 31, 2014, but stayed for a year to help the department transition to new leadership. His new retirement date was to be the end of this month.

Consiglio was instrumental in the growth of the department in its 30 years of existence, according to trustees. The police department has eight full-time officers and a captain and five part-timers.

Fred R. Bobovnyk, current township fiscal officer who served as a trustee from 1996 to 2009, said, “It’s a sad loss for the community. The chief provided outstanding service to the community.”

Bobovnyk said Consiglio contacted the police department in Chardon, Ohio, after the school shooting there in February 2012. “I believe he was one of the first police chiefs to get involved in the active shooter training,” Bobovnyk said, adding that an officer from the department trained in the program.

Damon Dohar, Weathersfield schools superintendent, described Consiglio as a “friend of the schools.”

“He was always cooperative and collaborative,” Dohar said of the police chief’s concern and work with the schools on security.

Dohar said Consiglio worked with school personnel to set up a security plan and conducted lockdown drills. “He always had good ideas and was up to date,” Dohar said.

Consiglio attended Youngstown State University.

His career in law enforcement began more than 40 years ago as a deputy, then detective, with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.

Consiglio joined the Weathersfield department in 1984 and became a detective in 1985. In 1991, he was promoted to captain, a position he held until being named chief in 2002.

Consiglio ran three times for the position of Trumbull County sheriff. He lost to former Sheriff Richard Jenkins in the 1980s and twice to Thomas Altiere in 2004 and 2008.

A cause of death and funeral arrangements have not been released.