The chief of the Waterbury Police Department has been chosen to serve as chairman of a new council formed by the National Police Activities/Athletic League.
The announcement was made Monday in a news release where officials said Chief Fernando Spagnolo was in Washington D.C. earlier this month to take his place as the founding chairman of the PAL’s newly formed Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council.
“Chief Spagnolo’s dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of the young people he serves makes him a valuable member of the council,” National PAL CEO Chris Hill, who built a PAL chapter in New Jersey while serving as a police sergeant, said in a statement.
According to officials, Spagnolo is the only Connecticut official selected for the council, which also includes the chief of the Washington D.C. and Santa Barbara police departments, the Police Commissioner of Philadelphia, and the Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
“We are going to lean on the Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council for guidance as National PAL evolves and grows to provide new assets and support to our local chapters,” Kenneth Ragland, president of the organization’s corporate board of directors, said in the statement. Ragland is also a retired police sergeant and founder of the PAL chapter in Henrico County, Virginia.
“It is an honor to be named chairman of the National PAL Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council,” Spagnolo said in the news release. “It is also an opportunity. There is so much we can learn from one another.
“Working with chiefs and sheriffs from around the country, we will share successful models for building relationships with youth and implementing programs to support them,” Spagnolo added.
“Together as a council we can help National PAL share those lessons with law enforcement supporting youth around the world.”
According to PAL officials, creating the Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Council is part of a “rejuvenation and redirection of the national organization,” which has been serving local chapters since the 1940s. There are now more than 300 PAL chapters.
“The mentoring, support and example that police officers provide to the youth who enter these programs is probably as important as the sports and activities,” Hill said. “Everyone likes to win a contest, but PAL chapters can help young people find the right path to a good future — to win in life.”