Danbury Council Opens Police Jobs to Non-Citizens in 18-2 Vote as Critics Challenge Safety Rationale
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 9
Danbury Council Opens Police Jobs to Non-Citizens in 18-2 Vote as Critics Challenge Safety Rationale
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 9
Summary
Lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients can now apply for Danbury police jobs after the City Council amended its hiring ordinance in an 18-2 vote last week.
Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour had told an April committee discussion that recruitment is difficult and the city wants to attract the best-qualified candidates, a case echoed by Mayor Roberto Alves.
Candace Fay, one of two opposing council members, said the change serves a political narrative rather than a staffing need and argued officers with arrest and force powers should be U.S. citizens.
The move aligns Danbury with Connecticut standards that opened eligibility to lawful permanent residents in 2020 and DACA recipients in 2025, extending a broader state-level shift into local hiring.