Scott Kleinknecht
Naugatuck,CT
Summary
I am a certified police officer approximately 24 years of continuous service in policing the public honorably and respectfully. In addition I have over 13 years of experience supervising subordinates. I have always interacted with the public and my subordinates with a calm, professional demeanor, which has helped me achieve great success in the field of Law Enforcement. I have always made it a point, despite my rank, to keep current with new trends in policing, and I have always viewed myself as having an innovative mind in both my personal and professional life. Throughout my almost 24 years of experience, I have gained professional experience in handling and supervising complicated and time-consuming calls. In addition, as an Internal Affairs Investigator, I have familiarity with the complexity and challenges of investigations of that nature.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Patrol Officer
Naugatuck Police Department
Naugatuck, CT
04.2023 - Current
- Patrolled assigned areas to detect criminal activity and provide public safety.
- Conducted traffic stops, wrote tickets, and made arrests when necessary.
- Investigated suspicious activities, responded to emergency calls, and mediated disputes.
- Provided assistance to victims of crimes or accidents.
- Interviewed suspects and witnesses to obtain statements regarding incidents.
- Performed first aid as needed in emergency situations.
- Responded to radio dispatches regarding disturbances or criminal acts in progress.
- Observed individuals suspected of committing crimes in order to collect evidence against them.
- Prepared detailed reports about daily activities and investigations conducted.
- Attended regular training sessions on new law enforcement techniques and procedures.
- Participated in physical fitness tests to ensure readiness for active duty service.
- Arrested individuals suspected of criminal activities, following proper legal procedures.
- Responded promptly to calls for service, assessing situations and taking appropriate action.
- Conducted regular patrols in designated areas to deter and detect signs of criminal activity.
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with local businesses and stakeholders to enhance community policing efforts.
- Participated in continuous training sessions to stay updated on law enforcement best practices.
- Wrote detailed arrest and accident reports.
- Investigated illegal or suspicious activities, performing direct follow-up or reporting findings to appropriate senior personnel.
- FTO Certified
- EMR Certified First Responder.
- Served as rotational detective October 1st 2025-January 1st 2026.
- Union Board Member 2025-present.
Lieutenant, Patrol Operations
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
04.2019 - 04.2023
- Communicated information regarding security, safety and operations through chain of command.
- Evaluated and advised police officers and other personnel.
- Diffused disruptive behavior by verbal interventions.
- Conducted daily briefings to pass on pertinent info to oncoming shifts.
- Briefed superiors of incidents and misconduct and recommended disciplinary actions.
- Read and evaluated case reports from each patrol officer assigned to the shift to assess accuracy and completeness.
- Communicated with other departments and coordinated responses to suspicious activities and or events that would possibly be a concern for civil unrest.
- Studied crime reports to identify trends and strategize patrol and investigative responses.
- Communicated and coordinated responses to suspicious activities.
- Wrote reports detailing events and people involved for meritorious service.
- Responsible for establishing incident command in all major incidents.
- As a lieutenant, I have handled incident command at homicides, a murder suicide stabbing, numerous shootings, major assaults, suspicious fires, fatal motor vehicle accidents, and various other minor offenses that needed a supervisors input.
- Handled civilian complaints.
- IA investigator.
- Oversaw dispatch when need be.
- In charge of Use of Force Panel that reviews all officers use of force incidents and amongst other panelist trained in use of force, we come to a conclusion in the reasonableness and the necessity of the force used and write up a report accordingly.
- Commander of our department's Special Event Unit which is a twenty seven person unit. Responsibilities were to monitor events held in the city and plan accordingly should there be a risk of violent civil unrest. Emphasis was placed on First Amendment rights.
- Provided guidance to patrol officers on a variety of issues, such as responding to calls for service, conducting investigations, making arrests, and handling evidence.
- Developed strategies to address community-specific crime problems.
- Coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to ensure effective communication and collaboration between agencies.
- Conducted regular staff meetings to discuss current events and operational procedures.
- Reviewed police reports for accuracy and completeness prior to submission to superiors.
- Assisted in the development of departmental policies related to patrol operations.
- Evaluated employee performance through observation and review of work product.
- Investigated citizen complaints regarding officer conduct or performance.
- Served as liaison between department personnel and outside agencies such as prosecutors' offices or courts when necessary.
Police Union Executive Board Member
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
02.2018 - 04.2023
- Defined and enforced organizational bylaws, rules and policies.
- Attended board meetings and reviewed meeting agendas.
- Maintained confidentiality in regard to internal organizational affairs and information.
- Oversaw corrective action plans to remedy structural, organizational and departmental issues.
- Participant in negotiations with regards to the department's contract.
Training Sergeant
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
10.2015 - 04.2019
- Trained and mentored staff on correct procedures to maximize efficiency and protect public trust.
- Maintained updated knowledge through continuing education and advanced training with focus on current trends of modern policing.
- Became POST certified instructor responsible for instructing our officers, other departments in the state of Connecticut, as well as recruits at the academy.
- Responsible for recruitment and overseeing the hiring process, during which time, under my supervision forty officers were hired.
- Conducted numerous background checks into prospective officers.
- Responsible for the department's FTO program.
- Responsible for every officer's certification status and coordination of their schedules with their required classes needed.
- Updated our department's policy and procedure manuel.
- Wrote policy and procedure on a need be basis.
- Assisted in the department's accreditation process.
- Coordinate with other agencies for purposes of training opportunities.
- Supervised the execution of physical fitness training activities.
- Evaluated personnel performance during field exercises.
Police Sergeant
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
09.2010 - 10.2015
- Trained and mentored staff on correct procedures to maximize efficiency and protect public trust.
- Issued tickets to offenders for parking and other infractions .
- Responded quickly to calls, questions and complaints from citizens to help in various situations.
- Handled civilian complaints accordingly.
- Delegated responsibilities amongst those under my supervision.
- Reviewed arrest reports for accuracy, completeness, and probable cause.
- Responsible for overseeing dispatch and assuming control when necessary.
- Completed performance evaluations for all probationary officers on the shift.
- Ensured departments rules, and policies and procedures were followed, forwarded up concerns up the chain of command accordingly.
- Assist, mentor, and develop new officers and monitor their progression.
- Patrolled designated districts in patrol cars, on bicycles and on foot.
- Informed shift officers of properties to watch and noted criminals understood to be in patrol areas.
- Monitored serving of warrants and assisted in making required arrests.
- Monitored detainees in our detention center.
- Responsible for checking department issued equipment and the sign out list for both equipment and patrol cars.
D.A.R.E Officer
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
08.2009 - 08.2010
- Educated youth on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
- Participated in school safety plans.
- Participated in many community events.
- Mediated at principal's request with discipline procedures.
Patrol Officer
West Haven Police Department
West Haven, CT
10.2002 - 08.2009
- Monitored and investigated suspicions persons and situations and unusual activities.
- Boosted community safety, performed motor vehicle accident investigations and conducted field sobriety tests at DUI checkpoints.
- Maintained knowledge of changes in laws and planned alteration of departmental strategies and policies accordingly.
- Patrolled the City of West Haven and worked with citizens to reduce crime in area.
- Served active warrants.
- Patrolled designated districts in police vehicles, bicycles, and by foot.
- Investigated offenses and arrested offenders of criminal law.
- Wrote reports detailing events and people involved.
- Investigated crimes and interviewed witnesses and victims.
- Apprehended, arrested and detained criminal suspects and law violators.
- Responded to major vehicular accidents with fatalities or serious injuries.
- Drafted incident reports detailing criminal activity, civil proceedings and varied incidents.
- Communicated and coordinated responses to suspicious activities.
- Responded to numerous calls for service including serious violent felonies.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Housatonic Community College
Bridgeport, CTSome College (No Degree) - Exercise Science
Barry University
Miami, FLSome College (No Degree) - Exercise Science
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CTSkills
- First Response Services
- Life and Property Protection
- Incident Safety
- Administration and Management
- Service Oriented
- Report Writing
- Problem-Solving
- Protecting People and Property
- Critical Thinking
- Public Safety
- Dispatch Communication
- Criminal Investigations
- Community Relations
- Time Management
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Maintaining Order
- Crowd Control
- Officer Training
- Decision Making
- Police Patrol Operations
- Background Investigations
- Public Relations
- Team Building and Development
- Safety and Risk Assessments
- Investigative skills
- Patrol procedures
- Attention to Detail
- Professionalism
- Written Communication
- Time management abilities
- Analytical Skills
- Incident documentation
- Conflict Resolution
- Investigative Reports
- Organizational Skills
- Community policing
- Crime Prevention
- POST certified instructor in the following:
- Crowd Management/Control
- Fair and Impartial Policing
- Supervisor Subordinate Relations
- Use of Force
- Police K-9 Interactions
- Report Writing
- Motor Vehicle Stops
- Baton/Pepper Spray/40mm
Timeline
Patrol Officer
Naugatuck Police Department
04.2023 - Current
Lieutenant, Patrol Operations
West Haven Police Department
04.2019 - 04.2023
Police Union Executive Board Member
West Haven Police Department
02.2018 - 04.2023
Training Sergeant
West Haven Police Department
10.2015 - 04.2019
Police Sergeant
West Haven Police Department
09.2010 - 10.2015
D.A.R.E Officer
West Haven Police Department
08.2009 - 08.2010
Patrol Officer
West Haven Police Department
10.2002 - 08.2009
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Housatonic Community College
Some College (No Degree) - Exercise Science
Barry University
Some College (No Degree) - Exercise Science
Southern Connecticut State University