Police Commission
The Democratic-led Police Commission faced an enormous challenge when first elected in 2021. Serious questions swirled around the leadership culture at the police department and personnel. Turnover was high and unsustainable. And even as they sought to tackle these issues they faced opposition to their authority to do so. The Commissioners immediately got to work amending the Commission’s bylaws so that they had the explicit authority to proceed as they thought they should. They pressed for greater transparency and accountability and made themselves more accessible to the public for feedback and comment. In the final analysis, they secured the support of the First Selectman and an overwhelming vote of the town to commission an independent study (PERF) that led to necessary changes in the department. But their work is not done.
Moving forward, our Police Commission candidates believe we must:
- Successfully hire, acclimate and support new department leadership.
- Ensure the well-being and morale of staff in the department.
- Utilize effective evaluation and succession planning tools.
- Implement the recommendations of the independent study (PERF).
Kristin Bonneau
For the past 20 years, Kristin has been practicing law in Connecticut representing claims of all kinds. She’s represented injured police officers and firefighters, as well as defended the towns and municipalities they protect. She has worked closely with unions of all kinds. She’s also from a law enforcement family with members who have served on the NYPD and police and fire departments across New England.
Kristin would be honored to serve Old Saybrook. If elected, she is committed to working with the new Chief to rebuild the public reputation of the Department. With her experience and skills in bringing different sides of an issue together, she sees an opportunity to rebuild a strong relationship between Old Saybrook residents and the OSPD. She’d like to see the department move toward even more community involvement, building trust, improving communication and fostering a sense of solidarity.
Kristin has lived in Old Saybrook with her daughter for the past 7 years. They love the schools and their kind and supportive neighbors. And as someone who fearlessly learned to snowboard at age 50, look out—she’s unstoppable.
Jill Notar-Francesco
Jill has become one of the most trusted voices on the Old Saybrook Police Commission over the last four years and currently serves as Board Secretary. She is seeking re-election to continue the progress that the Democrat-led PC has made, and to be part of the team that helps set the tone for the OSPD’s next chapter. Her calm and level-headed presence, collaborative working style, attentive listening, and decisive perspectives will be much-needed as the PC oversees the OSPD’s transition to new leadership.
To create better communication between the Commission and residents, Jill was an integral part of implementing commissioner emails so that residents could express concerns directly to the PC. Also, due to high turnover rates among police officers, she was vocal about the need for an independent review of the OSPD—now known as the PERF report—that the town overwhelmingly supported.
Jill’s commitment to Old Saybrook can also be found in her backyard–literally. She is an “official” Osprey nest steward, collecting data on a nest across from her property.
Chub Wilcox
Chub is one of Old Saybrook’s most recognized and highly-regarded public servants. A lawyer with 40 years of experience, he has served on the Police Commission since 2018 and has been Chair since 2021.
As a PC leader, he has persevered against obstacles, both legal and personnel-related to bring necessary improvements to the Commission bylaws, essentially the Commission’s constitution and job description. He also worked with his fellow Commissioners, the First Selectman and the voters of Old Saybrook to complete a thorough review of the Police Department, also known as the PERF report.
Even with all that Chub’s accomplished, he’s not done. He is seeking re-election so that he can help the new Chief get acclimated to the job. He’d also like to explore more collaboration with neighboring police departments to create a stronger community and possibly share certain services such as canine patrol, marine patrol and a social worker.
When he’s not busy implementing innovative ideas to keep Old Saybrook safe, you might see Chub around town enjoying the water, the restaurants, and shows at The Kate, with his wife, Marcia, an equally cherished member of the community.
Renee Root Shippee
Renee isn’t just a lifelong resident of Old Saybrook, she is a proven, highly respected leader who fosters a sense of trust within the community. She’s a small business owner, President of the Lions Club and most notably Vice Chair of the Police Commission for which she seeks re-election.
As an 8 year veteran of the PC, she understands the importance of oversight. Renee stands her ground for what’s fair and just, articulates her opinions clearly and isn’t intimidated by opposing pressure. As a result, she and her fellow Commissioners were able to conduct the PERF study with overwhelming support from Old Saybrook residents. In this next chapter, Renee hopes to work with the new Police Chief to build a strong working relationship and move the OSPD in a positive direction.