Former Hartford Police Chief Bernie Sullivan Dies At 78

HARTFORD, CT — Bernard Sullivan, former commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, has died after a long bout with leukemia. Sullivan became a Hartford beat cop in 1964, rising to the rank of police chief in 1982. He was 78.

Following seven years as chief of the Hartford Police Department, he was chosen by Governor William A. O’Neill in December 1989 to serve as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, where he served through the end of January 1991.

He was then employed as acting police chief for Central Connecticut State University and assisted the process of selecting a permanent chief. In 1992, Sullivan was chosen by Speaker of the House Tom Ritter to serve as chief of staff for the Connecticut House Democrats caucus and held that position through two speakers until retiring from the public sector in 2000.

"On behalf of the residents of Connecticut, I extend my deepest condolences to Bernie Sullivan’s family, and want each of them to know how grateful we are to have had his service in our state," Lamont said in a statement. "He is extraordinarily well known among Connecticut’s law enforcement community, and had an impact on the lives of so many police officers who are protecting our neighborhoods today. We are blessed to have had someone as committed as him in public service."

"Bernie Sullivan grew up in Hartford, served Hartford, led the Hartford Police Department with distinction for seven years as chief, and went on to serve as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety," Mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement. “He was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about our city and our state, and he and his family are in our prayers today.”

According to his obituary: "Sullivan implemented many innovative programs while maintaining a reputation as a tough but fair old-school Irish cop. He believed in community police support and crisis intervention, as well as mental health support for the department staff and his mark on the HPD reflects that."

U.S. and State of Connecticut flags were lowered to half-staff in his honor at all DESPP and Hartford Police Department locations throughout the state. Funeral arrangements are in the process of being finalized.