Gove Officially 'Pinned' as West Hartford Police Chief

With the help of his family, Tracey Gove officially assumed the duties as West Hartford's Police Chief in a badge-pinning ceremony Friday morning at Town Hall.

Gove's two older sons, Connor (8 1/2) and Tyler (7) had the honor of pinning the chief's badge on both his uniform and hat as Gove's wife, Lisa, looked on. Gove, 40, also has a four-year-old son, Michael, who did not attend the ceremony.

"I am honored and humbled to be selected as West Hartford's new police chief, and I can't tell you the immense pride I feel up here right now," Gove said as he addressed the crowd.

"Policing is one of the noblest professions that a person can undertake, and it comes with great reward but great responsibility. Police officers themselves really live purpose-driven lives ... it's about caring for and helping others, and about having the passion for what they do each and every day they come to work," Gove said as gave a brief speech and thanked his family, friends, mentors, and those who were involved in the selection process.

Gove specifically thanked former Chief Jim Strillacci, who attended the ceremony and "made my job very easy by building a progressive, top-notch police agency ... I really have an easy job because I'm going to come in here and not have to make sweeping changes."

Gove said he plans to "build upon the chief's successes."

"I will commit myself to creating an environment where you matter," Gove said to the police officers in attendence. "My door is always open; that's not just a cliche."

Mayor Scott Slifka, who introduced Gove as "the embodiment of a 21st Century chief," mentioned that West Hartford has had very little turnover in the role of police chief in its 157-year history. Slifka called Gove a "generational hire ... the chief for the West Hartford of today, but also the West Hartford of tomorrow, and maybe several decades from now."

Gove, who was just promoted to captain of the patrol division in September, has been a member of the West Hartford police department since 1994, and other than 19 months spent with the Connecticut State Police, has spent his whole career with the department.

"I'm very proud of him," Gove's wife Lisa said after the ceremony. "It definitely happened sooner than expected," she said.

Gove was West Hartford's police officer of the year in 1999, and has received numerous other accolades including the Unit Citation Award, the Distinguished Unit Citation Award, the Police Merit Award, and the Distinguished Service Award and Medal, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Enforcement Award. 

Gove was one of 13 candidates who applied for the chief's position, and his on Dec. 13. Strillacci's last day was Thursday.

Gove ended his comments with a quote from George Washington Carver, words he said he has truly taken to heart. "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong, because my friends, someday you will have been all of these."