Biography of Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts

Since becoming Chief of Police in July of 2006, Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts has implemented a Truancy Reduction Program, a team effort with the Hartford School System and Hartford Community and Truancy Courts to reduce truancy and increase school attendance for at risk youth, collaborated with federal and state agencies to remove the most violent offenders from Hartford streets, created a Sex Offender Registry Unit that is number one in the state in tracking sex offenders and enforcement of sex offender registry requirements, and restored the Hartford Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit.

Under his leadership motto of Service, Relationships and Safety, the department has continued implementation of its Neighborhood Policing Plan, which Chief Roberts co-authored as Deputy Chief in 2004, and focuses on building positive partnerships between the men and women of the Hartford Police Department and the public they serve.

Despite ending 2009 with the lowest crime rate in the department’s history of recorded statistics, including a 28 percent decrease over the past five years, Chief Roberts continues to strive for excellence, believing success is never final.  In 2010 his plans include expansion of the Truancy Reduction Program enabled by a federal grant facilitated by 1st District U.S. Congressman John Larson, enforcement of quality of life issues, the creation of a Domestic Violence Response Unit, and the continued  recruitment of new police officers to ensure the department maintains the level of police services necessary for a safe, livable city.

In commemoration of the 100 anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 2009, the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP named Chief Roberts one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut.  On June 30^th, 2009, Hartford Magazine named Chief Roberts one of Greater Hartford's 50 Most Influential People. 

Chief Roberts is the recipient of the 2009 Collin Bennett/Marcus Garvey 17th Annual Distinguished Service Award, the 2009 Hartford Multinational Lions Club Community Service Award, the 2008 Distinguished Chiefs Award from The Police commissioners Association of Connecticut, the 2008 Community Service Award of the Greater Hartford Urban League, and the 2008 Distinguished Gentleman Award of the Southern Connecticut Black Nurses Association, Inc.   He is also the recipient of the 2007 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the 2007 Connecticut State Police Men and Women for Justice Law Enforcement Award, and the 2007 Christian Activities Council Certificate of Merit. 

An honor graduate of Charter Oak State College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology, Chief Roberts recently completed the Police Executive Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police Training (SMIP) Program.  He is a graduate of Leadership Greater Hartford, Class of 2005, and is the recipient of Leadership Greater Hartford's Polaris Award.

A Deacon with the St. John’s Full Gospel Deliverance Church, Chief Roberts and his wife, Donna, married twenty-five years, have two daughters.