NEW HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven’s acting police chief has withdrawn her nomination to be permanent chief after she was denied the top job earlier this week.
Renee Dominguez, who has served as acting police chief since March and was Mayor Justin Elicker’s choice for the position, said she also plans to retire from the force after a permanent police chief is chosen.
The news comes just days after the city’s Board of Alders rejected Elicker’s nomination via a voice vote. The board said they wanted to open up the police chief search nationwide and select a more diverse candidate.
She called the board's decision "disappointing" and said she believes the decision to reject her nomination did not have anything to do with her being a woman.
"However, to be able to be the first female police chief would have been amazing; it would have been historic," Dominguez said Friday during a news conference. "And I wish was able to have it with me and this police department as well."
Dominguez, who is an 18-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department, said she is not closing the door to possibilities elsewhere.
"I want to stay in law enforcement. My love is for law enforcement. I've been a police officer since I was 21, it's half my life," she said. "I love this city. I want to be police chief here, however, that is not how this has played out."
She continued: "I have more to give. I have more plans and if it ends up being at another police department, I welcome that opportunity."
Elicker released a statement regarding the decision, saying it is his goal to have a new police chief by early spring, 2022. He said also that he has asked Dominguez to stay in her acting role until the process is complete.
“I’m incredibly thankful for Chief Dominguez’s interest in the position of permanent Police Chief and participation in the confirmation process," said Elicker. "The Chief approached the confirmation process with dignity, positivity and integrity - engaging the alders and responding to questions asked."
He added: "She has been a champion of important initiatives, such as rebuilding the Police Department and doing so in a way that recognizes our city’s diversity as well as working to launch the community crisis response team. The City of New Haven is truly richer for her service.”
“We look forward to engaging with the community in the process to ensure the new Chief of Police shares our core values toward diversity, community policing, law enforcement and violence reduction,” said the New Haven Board of Alders in a statement.
WATCH DOMINGUEZ'S FULL NEWS CONFERENCE HERE
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