Stamford Police Chief Robert Nivakoff promoted Lt. Francis Cronin to Chief of Patrol and Lt. Jon Fontneau to Chief of Administration and Criminal Investigations. Both Cronin and Fontneau came up through the ranks in the Stamford Police Dept. with 35 and 29 years of experience respectively.
“These police officers represent the kind of leadership and example that will set the tone as the exemplary police force we intend to create in Stamford, Chief Nivakoff said. Our city is fortunate to have officers like Frank Cronin and Jon Fontneau to pass on their formal expertise and intuitive wisdom to the younger police officers on the job; they’re second to none and I’m eager to see their influence become part of the culture I want to create,” Chief Nivakoff stated. “In taking these positions, these officers are no longer eligible for overtime and will be accepting substantial income reductions; their dedication to this city and their example speak volumes,” Nivakoff said.
Lt. Cronin began his career with the Stamford Police Dept. in 1973, relocating from Boston to work in a regional undercover narcotics squad based in Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford. He spent six years in undercover narcotics in local, state and regional units and was assigned to the Regional Task Force. He is the recipient of numerous commendations from inner city Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, Hartford and the Stamford Police Departments. He worked on Multi-jurisdictional Task Forces with the DEA, ATF and FBI. Cronin was voted the prestigious Officer of the Year Award in 1981. He was promoted to sergeant and created the COPE PACT unit and became its commander for three years. He was later promoted to Lieutenant. The COPE PACT squad made thousands of arrests that significantly reduced drug activity in Stamford. Cronin’s reputation as a firm, tough street cop tempered by compassion earned him the respect and acceptance vital to grass roots police work. Cronin was also as Commanding Officer of the Police Academy where he presented state-of-the-art active shooter training subsequent to the Columbine incident. He served as the vice president of the Stamford Police Association and its Trustee Chairman for 18 years where he was instrumental in growing its pension value from $30 million to $180 million.
“It’s important (for police officers) to get to know the people where they patrol. Every call’s a new situation and getting to know people in your area is part of the nuts and bolts of the job that makes you effective,” Cronin states.
Much of Cronin’s new role focuses on being a mentor and teacher, and what he teaches reflects his own mix of expertise in structured police procedures, gritty, intuitive street smarts and a heartfelt caring, especially for the least fortunate among us. “At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, ‘How many people did I really help today?’ The police patrol is very much the face of the community; that can be positive or negative. Our job is to create a culture that assures that face – that image – is positive (in appearance and affect),” Cronin stated. “You have do develop insight by proactively getting out of the car and engaging in the community,” Cronin suggests. In a word, it’s about being proactive.” Cronin expects his proactive approach to create a culture of police officers with an attitude founded on selfless public service, continual training, professionalism and caring. Cronin spent four years in U.S. Navy submarine service on nuclear and diesel submarines. He was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, New London, Conn., Submarine School and U.S. Sonar School. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Iona College and graduated from the prestigious Boston Latin High School. He also attended trainings at Babson Command, and Communications Schools, DEA Training in Police Undercover Operations and FBI Criminal Investigation training. He continues living in Stamford where he and his wife raised their four children.
In regard to Lt. Fontneau, Chief Nivakoff says, “John’s a great police officer. We worked the West Side as sergeants together where I frequently witnessed him care for disadvantaged people and I witnessed him risk his life a number of times. What really stands out in my memory is the terrific summer camp Jon ran for kids,” Nivakoff recounted. Fontneau recently spearheaded the investigation that netted the largest drug bust in the City’s history ending in indictments and arrests of 55 drug dealers and their related crimes being removed from the street.
In 29 years in the Stamford Police Department, he progressed through the ranks from a uniform patrolman to a sergeant in the Detective Bureau and later served in the Youth Bureau. He was commander of the Midnight Uniform division, commander of the Central and South End Districts and supervisor of the Youth Service Division. He was a supervisor of the COPE PACT Narcotics Unit, instituted the School Resource Program and the Mighty Might Basketball League. Fontneau also formulated the Community Police Child Guidance Center Partnership, commanded the Narcotic and Organized Crime Unit and wrote several grant applications to fund police programs.
“Jon really blossomed in the narcotics squad as a cop with a lot of street smarts and as a leader with his head screwed on tight,” Chief Nivakoff said. “The guys in the department look up to Jon and the criminal element respects him. He’s a relentless guy with vision who loves being a cop, and he’s as compassionate as he is tough.”
“I want to create a strong team spirit throughout the department and continue leading by example,” Fontneau stated. “I’m big on outreach programs and community policing, especially as it relates to kids.” “Proactive” is the operative word in Fontneau’s plans as he reflects on his view of managing several divisions in the police department: Administration; Animal Control; Bomb Squad; Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad; Emergency Communication; Family Services; Homeland Security; K-9; Marine; Motorcycle; Narcotics and Organized Crime; and the Youth Bureau.
“There’s a lot of work to do. Terrorist preparation and community policing are key focal points,” Fontneau said. “We need to meet with religious leaders to nurture grass roots relationships and support in the community. We want people – especially kids – to know that we’re the good guys, not the just guys who take their relative away,” Fontneau said. “We need to invest in our most pressing issue and that’s our Youth Bureau. And we need to unify the city by returning to our roots as a public service and by collaborating with corporations,” Fontneau said.
Fontneau has completed several advanced police trainings including a Yale Fellowship on child guidance and classes with the FBI and DEA at FBI Headquarters in Quantico, Va. “I’m approaching this proactively and aggressively. I want to bring all the elements of the community together and make the Stamford Police Department an integral part of it,” Fontneau said.
