Jason Thody's Experience:
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Data Program Director at State of Connecticut - Division of Criminal Justice
March 2025 - Present | Hartford State's Attorney's OfficeThe Program Data Director position was created by the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office to evaluate and standardize the Serious Firearm Offender Program (SFOP) across Judicial Districts and police departments in Connecticut. This work is focused on a change in state statute that went into effect on October 1, 2023. Several city mayors, police chiefs, and the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office petitioned the legislature for changes to address the cycle of gun violence, specifically targeting the most prolific offenders. The legislation creates gun dockets in five Judicial Districts, parameters identifying a serious firearm offender, and a petition to impose a 30 percent cash bond on offenders in specific circumstances. As the Hartford Police Chief, I worked with then-Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin to successfully advocate for this legislation.
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Founder and Principal at Glass Shield Consulting LLC
October 2024 - Present | Haddam, CTGlass Shield Consulting (GSC) provides professional consulting services related to public safety leadership, organizational operations, policy development, and public safety training based on nearly three decades of experience in the field. GSC cultivates advanced, modern public safety solutions based on best practices customized to each situation and environment.
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Chief of Police at City of Hartford Police Department
April 2019 - July 2024 | Hartford, CTHartford is the capital city of Connecticut and home to approximately 121,000 people. Hartford is primarily urban and highly diverse, comprising 44% Hispanic and 35% Black residents. The city has three major college campuses, a regional airport, and three Level I trauma center hospitals. The Police Department operates on a $53.1 million budget (2024) and has an authorized strength of 475 sworn officers, most of whom are members of the Hartford Police Union, and 38 civilian staff. The rank structure includes one Chief, two Assistant Chiefs, four Deputy Chiefs, five Captains, twenty-four Lieutenants, and sixty Sergeants. The Hartford Police Department focuses on community policing, advanced technologies, and intelligence-led policing. In 2023, the Department became the first major city police department in the state to become nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Achieved historic reductions in crime with a focus on shootings and gun homicides. Shooting victims were reduced by 59%, and overall, Part One crime was reduced by 31% from July 2018 to July 2024. Expanded community policing efforts to include faith-based and non-governmental organizations to address quality of life concerns, reduce crime, and increase public engagement and trust. Worked with Corporation Counsel to successfully petition for the sunset of the 1973 Cintron v. Vaughn consent decree in April 2023, ending 50 years of court oversight. Led policy development efforts that resulted in the Department receiving State Accreditation in September of 2022 and National Accreditation in November 2023. Both represent the first time the Department has been accredited in its history, and the first major city in Connecticut to be accredited. Implemented Departmental annual reports to promote transparency and market the Department’s mission, function, goals, and objectives. Increased public access to Department operations, including monthly public COMPSTAT meetings and forward-facing policies on the Department website. Managed the Department through the COVID-19 Global Pandemic and implemented policies to keep employees and the public safe. Led the Department through 199 organized protests after the death of George Floyd, with only two arrests made and no reported property damage. Worked with city leaders and service providers to implement the Hartford Emergency Assistance Response Team (HEARTeam). This coalition provides an alternative response to emergency calls involving residents in emotional crises, experiencing mental health episodes, or facing addiction. Procured and implemented advanced technology and technology-based programs for Hartford’s Real Time Crime Center. This included, but was not limited to, drones, license plate readers, advanced analytic software, and public/private partnerships in cameras. Commissioned independent researchers to conduct a wellness assessment for Police, Fire, and Dispatch, as well as an organizational climate assessment of the work environment at the police department. Implemented recommendations to improve work conditions. Developed and housed federal and regional task forces with neighboring cities and towns to address regional crime trends. Managed the Department's operating budget and successfully negotiated union contracts.
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Assistant Chief of Police at City of Hartford Police Department
August 2018 - April 2019 | Hartford, CTChief of Professional Standards and Administration - Served as Acting Chief in the absence of the Chief, oversaw Internal Affairs, Inspections, the Training Academy, Career Development (including Recruitment, PAL, Cadets and Explorers), Personnel, Fiscal Management, Planning and Accreditation, and Administrative Services (including Crime Analysis, Fleet, Court Support Services, Records, and Property Control). Chairman of the Firearms Discharge Board of Inquiry - Analyzed officer-involved shootings to determine compliance with Department policy, recommend training, and amend policies. Department Representative to the Civilian Review Board - Independent civilian review board with authority to investigate complaints and review reports and conclusions from the Internal Affairs Division to determine that they are complete, accurate, and factually supported. Liaison to City Council – Reported to the Chief of Police, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Mayor. This position developed and presented resolutions for City Council consideration on behalf of the Mayor, testified in front of the Council and Council subcommittees on police related matters, and presented the Departmental budget. Liaison to Corporation Counsel for Cintron vs. Vaughan Settlement Stipulation – Reported to Corporation Counsel and the Federal Magistrate. Managed Department compliance with all areas outlined in the 1973 Settlement Stipulation and the 2010 Settlement Agreement and gave status reports to Plaintiff’s counsel and the Federal Magistrate. Answered allegations of contempt. Chairman of the Fleet Committee – Prepared annual fleet budget and requests for the Chief of Police, Mayor, and City Council. Evaluated the Department's needs relative to vehicle use and condition. Maintained records of fleet assets for audit. Key Accomplishments: o Overhauled Internal Affairs and the citizen complaint process. Dispositions went from 7% of complaints sustained in 2017 to 29% in 2020. o Implemented body-worn and in-car camera program (five-year, $1.8 million project). Project lead from request for information, through budget, request for proposal, selection committee, contract, policy committee (to include union), training, and implementation. o Created Career Development Division, combining Recruitment, Police Cadets, Police Explorers, and the Police Activities League (PAL) into one Division to better attract and retain city residents and minority candidates. The first class resulting from this effort entered the Hartford Police Academy on March 25, 2019, at 50% female, 77.7% minority (33.3% Black and 44.4% Hispanic), and 27.7% city residents. o Expanded in-service training to include separate supervisor, mid-management, and command-focused training, including the Command Officers Development Course.
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Police Captain at Hartford Police Department
October 2014 - June 2018 | Hartford, CT Commander of Planning and Accreditation – Responsibilities include organizing and directing planning activities relative to police operations, operations support, training, budgeting, grants, fleet management, special investigations and special projects. Pursue State and C.A.L.E.A. accreditation. Policy development within state and national accreditation standards, state and federal constitutional mandates, Department of Justice consent decree stipulations, and national best practices. Command the Recruitment Unit that is responsible for successfully recruiting qualified applicants with a focus on city residents and minority candidates in an effort to better reflect community demographics. Liaison to City Council – Reports to Chief of Police, Chief Operating Officer, and Mayor. Develop and present resolutions on behalf of the Mayor for City Council consideration. Testify in front of Council and Council subcommittees on police related matters. Budget presentation. Deputy Chair of Firearms Discharge Board of Inquiry – Analyze officer involved shootings to determine compliance with Department policy, recommend training, and amend policy and procedure. Commander of Crisis Negotiation Team – Command and control of Crisis Negotiation Team during active callouts and training activities. Commander of Honor Guard – Planning, scheduling, and executing Honor Guard details and trainings. Member of Archdiocese of Hartford Blue Mass Committee since 2010. Member of Fleet Committee – Prepare annual fleet budget and request for Chief of Police, Mayor and City Council. Evaluate Department needs relative to vehicle use and condition. Maintain records of fleet assets for audit. Acting Chair of Uniform Committee – Evaluate and make recommendations relative to new equipment and uniform options for all divisions within the Police Department.
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Consultant/Senior Trainer at Daigle Law Group, LLC
December 2012 - December 2017 | Southington, CT Certified Litigation Specialist with Americans For Effective Law Enforcement – May, 2017 to Present Review and analyze material relative to Department of Justice Consent Decrees, police training, police use of force, police management and supervision, operations, policy and procedure, and civil and criminal proceedings. Conduct training and instruction at police departments and during conferences consistent with national best practices in areas including the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, officer and supervisor liability, use of force, bias based policing, ethics, policy development, accreditation, officer involved shootings, review boards, and law enforcement management and administration. Conduct investigations into allegations of police misconduct when individual departments lack the proper resources, have conflicts of interest, or the allegations involve high ranking officials.
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Police Lieutenant at Hartford Police Department
May 2009 - October 2014 | Hartford, CT Special Department Advocate – Responsible for prosecuting discipline in certain cases selected by the Chief. Selected cases included those with conflicts of interest, those with complicated circumstances, and those with severe penalties including large suspensions and termination. Commander of Zone 7: Downtown and Sheldon Charter Oak Neighborhoods – Mid-management position within the Community Policing Plan that directs and oversees Patrol Officers, Conditions Team, Community Service Officers, Business District Community Service Officers, and Faith Based Officers within Zone 7. Investigated field level citizen complaints. Attend community meetings and events to gather and share information relative to issues in and around Zone 7. Work with community leaders to address neighborhood concerns. Identify and address pattern crimes and allocate resources to address crime trends. Manage Zone overtime and compensatory time. Formulate operations plans and manage coverage of the downtown bar detail and special events including Winterfest, Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, First Night, Riverfest, and XL Center events. Commander of Crime Scene Division – Respond to major crime scenes and direct Crime Scene Division personnel in documenting and processing crime scenes and evidence relative to criminal matters. Oversee the processing and investigation of all fatal motor vehicle accidents and serious motor vehicle accidents with city liability. Manage divisional overtime and equipment budget.
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Police Sergeant at Hartford Police Department
July 2004 - May 2009 | Hartford, CT Commander of Crime Scene Division – (Above) Automated Fingerprint Identification System Administrator – Reports to the Commander of the State Police Bureau of Identification. Maintained compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Connecticut State Police and Hartford Police Department. Trained and certified new latent examiners as AFIS users. Commander of the Property Control Division – Supervised the intake, storage and disposition of all evidence seized by the Department. Managed TraQ inventory control systems and facilitated audits by the City Auditor and the State Examiner of Seized Property. Supervisor on the Emergency Response Team – Plan, oversee and execute tactical team operations including high risk warrant service, barricaded persons, hostage situations and dignitary protection details. Organize training and maintain training records. Patrol Supervisor in the Southwest District, Zones 5 and 6 including the Frog Hollow, South Green, Parkville, Behind the Rocks and South West Neighborhoods – Reports to the Zone 5 and Zone 6 Commanders. Supervised Patrol Officers, Community Service Officers, and Conditions Team assigned within the Southwest District. Responded to and managed active incidents as the first-line supervisor. Reviewed and notarized police reports and officer use of force reports. Investigated field level citizen complaints.