[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF VERNON POLICE CHIEF JAMES KENNY

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                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 2021

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
distinguished career in public service of Vernon Police Chief James 
Kenny. Having pursued a 36-year long career toward the betterment of 
the local policing community, the latter 15 within my hometown of 
Vernon, Chief Kenny announced his decision to retire on July 9, 2021. 
As a resident of Vernon who directly benefited from Chief Kenny's 
commitment to ``Preserve and Protect'' and as a public official who has 
a front row seat to observe him in action, I can attest to his stellar 
record of public service.
  Born and educated in the nearby town of Rocky Hill, James was 
destined to deepen his roots within the region help and build upon the 
community ties that raised him. Connected to his commitment to the 
conununity was his passion for service: immediately upon his graduation 
from Rocky Hill High School in 1978, James enlisted into the United 
States Army. He trained as a military police officer and served 
oversees, ultimately receiving an honorable discharge. After returning 
home he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from 
Bryant University with Honors, all the while working as a part time 
constable in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
  James Kenny initially joined the force as a patrol officer with the 
Glastonbury Police Department, a stone's throw away from his hometown, 
Rocky Hill. During his tenure at Glastonbury, his forward-thinking 
embracement of community policing and diligent work habits accelerated 
him through the ranks, rising in leadership to field training officer, 
sergeant, and then captain in the year 2000. He stayed on with the 
Glastonbury Department, serving as a supervisor in both the patrol and 
detective divisions until he transferred to the Vernon Police 
Department as a captain in 2006. It is worth noting that whilst serving 
within the Glastonbury Police Department, James pursued additional 
opportunities to serve the region such as when he became a founding 
member and then team leader to the Capital Region Emergency Services 
Team.
  Upon his retirement from Glastonbury's Police Department, James Kenny 
joined Vernon's Police Department in 2006 as a captain, becoming 
responsible for the entire operations of the local department. Of 
course, in transitioning to the Vernon Police Department, Captain James 
Kenny continued his advocacy of community policing in Vernon's 
neighborhoods, particularly the Rockville section of town. This 
proactive initiative did not go unnoticed, and it was not long before 
Captain Kenny became Police Chief Kenny in 2007. During his term, I had 
the opportunity to do some ``ride-alongs'' and witness the engagement 
with town residents that the chief himself and his officers practiced 
as part the ``Kenny Plan''.
  Presence was a major tenet of Vernon Police Chief Kenny's tenure as a 
leader in policing--not just for the region within the second district 
of Connecticut, but the entire state. He utilized this presence to grow 
the mission of and advocate for community policing. Shortly after 
becoming head of the Vernon Police Department, Chief Kenny was selected 
to sit on Governor Jodi Rell's Sentencing and Parole Review Task Force 
in order to thoroughly review policies involved in arresting, charging, 
sentencing and releasing those convicted of crimes in Connecticut. 
Around this same time, Chief Kenny also joined the Criminal Justice 
Policy Advisory Commission, for which he has remained on through to 
retirement. Even as our nation has brought to the forefront tough 
discussions on police reform, Police Chief Kenny and the Vernon Police 
Department remained a source of inspiration to the importance of a 
community-oriented and integrated local police force. It is worth 
noting that the Vernon Police Department, under the forward-thinking 
perspective of Chief Kenny, has long been a leader in this regard with 
the unit already having implemented policies to build trust within the 
town, such as through early utilization of body cameras and revisions 
to their authorized use of force.
  Madam Speaker, Chief Kenny has spent his life and career toward the 
betterment of his community. Chief Kenny has been a leader and a mentor 
to many people within and outside of the aforementioned policing 
departments. The town of Vernon owes him an endless amount of gratitude 
for his leadership in evolving an essential community service, 
particularly amidst the pandemic. He now retires to dedicate more time 
to his primary job as a devoted husband to his wife Theresa and a 
loving father of three daughters Lexie, Jacqueline and Jamie--the last 
of whom did an outstanding stint as an intern in my D.C. office. I 
cannot think of a gentleman more deserving of a fruitful retirement, 
the people of Vernon will truly miss his talented, caring service. To 
that end, I ask my colleagues in the House join me in honoring and 
thanking Vernon Police Chief James Kenny for his exemplary lifetime of 
service and wishing him and his family all the best in their life's new 
chapter.

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