The Speaker

West Hartford Police Chief Vernon L. Riddick Jr. has been in public safety for 33 years, serving as the Chief in West Hartford since 2018. Prior to joining the West Hartford Police Department, he served 24 years in the City of Waterbury Police Department where he spent his last five years there as Chief. He began his career at the Ansonia Police Department in 1993. Chief Riddick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Tufts University. He attended Rutgers University Law School, and earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Post University. Chief Riddick is a graduate of the 49th session of the Senior Management Institute of Police. He is also a graduate of the 79th Session of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar.

Chief Riddick has worked in several capacities throughout his career including, Emergency Response Team Commander, Platoon Commander, Union Executive Board, and Internal Affairs. He is a member of numerous boards and organizations including the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project, Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, where he was a former vice president, a member of the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council, and a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team pilot program – Hartford region.

Chief Riddick is an ordained deacon, President of the Capitol Region Chiefs of Police Association, the Immediate Past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and an adjunct professor with the University of New Haven.

Lastly, Chief Riddick has been blessed to have received numerous awards and honors. He was the recipient of both the United States Attorney’s Office and National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officer’s Community Policing Awards. Chief Riddick has also received the Dr. Henry C. Lee award from Jane Doe No More for his work on behalf of victims of sexual assault crimes.

Chief Riddick was named by the NAACP as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut, and he was previously selected as the African American Mayor for a day in the City of Waterbury. He is the first chief of color for both the Waterbury and West Hartford Police Departments.

Chief Riddick and his wife, Sandy are in their 26th year of marriage and they have a blended family of six children and seven grandchildren.

The Workshop

Chief’s Panel :
Thursday, October 22, 2026 02:30P

Police Chiefs answer fielded questions from throughout the year, and attendees have an opportunity to ask questions about being a police chief and the road to becoming a police chief.