Current Acting Chief Renee Dominguez to retire on Saturday, May 14th; Chief Administrative Officer Rush-Kittle to direct the Police Department until a permanent police chief is identified.
NEW HAVEN, CT – Today at City Hall, Mayor Justin Elicker announced that City Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Regina Rush-Kittle will serve as Acting Police Chief of the New Haven Police Department following the retirement of Acting Police Chief Renee Dominguez on Saturday, May 14th, 2022. Rush-Kittle will serve in the role temporarily until a permanent police chief is identified by Mayor Elicker and approved by the New Haven Board of Alders, for which the search process is well underway with initial mayoral interviews set to begin this month.
“I want to thank Acting Chief Renee Dominguez for her nearly twenty years of outstanding service in the New Haven Police Department and to the residents and City of New Haven. Chief Dominguez has been an exemplary leader and partner in City government and worked tirelessly to keep our residents, streets and city safe. Back in December of 2021, the Chief made clear she was going to retire and I wish her well and congratulate her on her trail blazing career,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “In Regina Rush-Kittle, we are fortunate to have another seasoned and trail blazing leader with both public safety experience and New Haven knowledge to step in and lead the Police Department as Acting Police Chief. I am confident that Regina Rush-Kittle will provide a steady hand and strong leadership for the New Haven Police Department and I’m grateful for her willingness to serve in this critical role until a permanent police chief is identified. I am also grateful to the men and women of the New Haven Police Department for their continued dedication, professionalism and partnership with the community.”
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the New Haven Police Department whose officers I’ve been proud to work with on a daily basis for the past five months”, said Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle. “As someone who has spent over 30 years in law enforcement, I know what our police officers face every day on the job, and I’m committed to providing them with the support and leadership they need during this time of transition so that they can effectively serve and partner with the community to keep our city safe.”
As Chief Administrative Officer, Rush-Kittle currently supervises several city departments, including: police, fire, emergency management, public safety communications (PSAP), human resources, parks and public works, engineering and the New Haven Free Public Libraries. Rush-Kittle has had a long and distinguished career in public safety and deep experience working with local, state and federal law enforcement partners. Immediately prior, Rush-Kittle served as Deputy Commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection where she led both the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security as well as the Connecticut Intelligence Center (CTIC). Prior to that, Rush-Kittle served with the Connecticut State Police for 28 years, rising up from the rank of trooper to major, and served as the commanding officer for several bureaus and state police troops. She also served as second in command at the Millbury Police Department in Massachusetts. Alongside her work in law enforcement, Rush-Kittle has 30 years of military service, serving both in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Reserves – rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest regular enlisted rank in the Army – with two deployments overseas in Kuwait and Afghanistan and awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Rush-Kittle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and earned her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England College. She is also a graduate of FBI National Academy and received an Honorary Doctorate in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.
Once a permanent police chief is identified and approved by the Board of Alders, Rush-Kittle will resume as Chief Administrator Officer. In the interim, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rebecca Bombero will assume the duties of the Chief Administrative Officer until Ms. Rush-Kittle returns from her temporary assignment managing the Police Department.
