Dozens of officers from around the Central/ Southern New Hampshire corridor turned out to congratulate Christopher Connelly, filling the town meeting room to the point that many well-wishers had to wait in the hallway.

On Thursday, March 29, Connelly was sworn in by selectmen as Dunbarton’s new chief of police, replacing Jeff Nelson, who took over as Dunbarton’s first full-time police chief in 2001.

Nelson is stepping down to take a position as bureau chief in charge of administration with New Hampshire Juvenile Justice Services.

In that time, police staffing and standards have reached unprecedented levels for a department the size of Dunbarton.

Connelly, who had worked with Nelson in Goffstown, followed him to Dunbarton shortly thereafter and was groomed from day one to be the next head of the police department.

“Jeff and I knew each other well from our time together in Goffstown, and when a position opened up here in Dunbarton, we kind of knew it would be a good fit,” said Connelly.

“I’m very fortunate. I couldn’t think of having a better situation because the people we have on board here, from our office administrator to our auxiliary volunteers to our part-time officers, they’re all just great people, and it makes it so enjoyable.”

It is Connelly’s professional work habits that will make him a great police chief, said Nelson.

“Whenever you look at anybody for a leadership position, it always comes down to character and he has excellent character, first and foremost,” he said. “He has a work habit that is second to none. He works very hard, has donated a lot of hours to the community over the last four years, and he has never been one of those guys that is always looking at the clock. He’ll always stay until the work is done.

“He also has great people skills,” Nelson continued. “He fits in really well with in the department and makes great connections with the community.”

But Nelson said it is the fact that he and Connelly share many of the same values and ideals, which will make him a perfect successor.

“The good thing is that this will be a seamless transition,” said Nelson. “He’s going to bring his own leadership style and abilities and knowledge, but he’s got some short-term and longterm challenges, and I think he will do an excellent job with those.”

One of the goals the department has accomplished under the two men is receiving CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) “recognition, st department in the United States to receive such an honor.

Connelly and Nelson brought all the department’s part-time officers up to full-time standards to accomplish the task. The process revolutionized the departments procedures in terms of record keeping, inventories and system of checks and balances.

The next step, under Connelly, is to receive full accreditation under CALEA standards.

“The accreditation is a huge thing for us, it provides a great template for the community and how to run the agency and we’re going to move forward and continue in that process until full accreditation is reached,” said Connelly. “It’s a tremendous stepping stone and blueprint for the agency, which is critically important for us.”

Other goals Connelly plans to pursue are a renovation project for the police station and the continued hiring of quality officers, including two full-timers in the coming months, which he said will be a great boost in coverage for the community.

“We always work very hard to select the right fit for the agency and the community, which is critical in a small agency, particularly to make sure that the people we select understand the character of the community and what’s important in our agency,” he said.

Before coming to Dunbarton in 2003 as an executive officer, Connelly spent 10 years in Goffstown, where he rose through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant.

Prior to his employment with Dunbarton’s neighbor to the south, Connelly began his law enforcement career with the Hillsborough Police Department, where he worked for seven years as a deputy sheriff/sergeant.

Connelly holds a bachelor of science degree in organizational management and an associate of science degree in criminal justice.

He also graduated from the Command Training Program at the New England Institute of Law Enforcement at the University of Massachusetts and Leadership of Greater Concord Program.

In addition, Connelly attended the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Seminar and has obtained a professional development certificate from the Federal Emergency Management Institute.

Connelly, a member of the Goffstown Area Rotary Club, Goffstown Police Association and Dunbarton Police Association, is married with one son.

He spends his free time attending and watching hockey games, reading and biking.