Ray Hassett, BA

Ray Hassett, AA, BA
 
Ray Hassett retired in 2012 after twenty five years of service with The New Haven Police Department. During his career, his assignments have included: Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant, and District Commander of one of the busiest Police Districts in New Haven.

Ray Hassett holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature, and an Associates of Arts Degree in General Education from Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport Connecticut.

Ray Hassett began his Police Career in 1987 as a Patrol officer answering calls for service. In 1993, Ray was promoted to the rank of Detective after completing a two year undercover investigation into organized crime in New Haven. During this time, Ray publicly left law enforcement but continued to work covertly under a different identity until the investigation was completed.

Upon returning to New Haven, Hassett worked as a Detective in The Major Crimes Unit, the Narcotics Division, and the Arson Squad. While a Detective, Ray also became part of a unique collaboration between a group of Child Psychologists, and first responding Police officers. The premise of this collaboration was that police officers are often the first and only professionals to come in contact with children exposed to violence, and through timely police referrals, early treatment to minimize trauma could begin. The Yale Child Studies Program began by working with the children of homicide victims but soon expanded to any situation where children are exposed to violence. Ray is a Fellow with The Yale Child Studies Center and throughout his career has worked as a trainer to other Police Agencies, helping to replicate this program throughout the region.

In 1996, Ray Hassett was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and after serving briefly as a street supervisor in Patrol, he was appointed Acting District Commander of the Chapel/Dwight Police District.

In 1999, Ray was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and permanent District Commander of the Chapel/Dwight Neighborhood which had now become one of the busiest Police Districts in New Haven. It was as District Commander that he became known for his problem solving strategies and close community collaborations which slowly improved and maintained the quality of life in diverse, ever changing and often dangerous neighborhoods. (Google: New Haven Independent Ray Hassett)

Ray is also an FBI trained Hostage Negotiator, and was the Officer In Charge of NHPD's Hostage Unit since 2003. He is Crisis Intervention Team trained (CIT), and was Team Leader since 2006. He was chosen CIT Officer of the Year in 2009 by Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE). Ray continues to assist CABLE in the training of Police Officers throughout the region learning new strategies to assist consumers in the mental health community.

Prior to entering Law Enforcement, Ray was a professional actor working in London, England, New York, and Los Angeles. Some of his film credits include: Superman, The Empire Strikes Back, Ragtime, The Spy Who Loved Me, Thief of Hearts, The Black Stallion Returns, Yanks, and Body Double...

Since retirement, Ray has also worked as a Contractor for the US State Department's Anti Terrorism Assistance Program, as an Instructor in Hostage Negotiation to Police Agencies in The Middle East, and The Philippines.

Ray is married with four children