Hannah Kotler, Contributing Photographer

The Yale Police Department will be led by two Yale alumni for the first time in department history after Rose Dell ’97 was sworn in as the YPD Assistant Chief.

On Friday, Jan. 12, the YPD promoted five officers at a ceremony held in the Whitney Humanities Center Auditorium. Dell was promoted to Assistant Chief after previously serving as the Public Information Officer at the New Haven Police Department. Dell told the News that YPD Chief Anthony Campbell ’95, former NHPD Chief and her former classmate in Berkeley College, approached her about the role.

“We share a belief in servant leadership and have a shared vision for moving the department forward,” Dell wrote in an email to the News. “Joining the YPD allows me to work alongside Chief Campbell, contribute to the institution I hold dear as an alumna, and make a positive impact on the Yale community.”

The position opened after former Assistant Chief Steve Woznyk retired in 2022 after 17 years in the role. The YPD selected Dell from several external candidates, including applicants from NHPD. 

At the same ceremony, John Healy was sworn in as captain. Healy retired from NHPD in June 2023. 

Both Dell and Healy were interviewed by a panel consisting of University faculty, law enforcement officials and community members, according to Campbell. Dell was chosen for the position in November 2023. 

“As the Assistant Chief of the Yale Police Department, my primary focus is to reclaim the image of policing as a noble profession,” Dell wrote in an email to the News. “I am committed to advancing women in law enforcement through the implementation of the 30X30 initiative. This initiative aims to increase the representation of women in law enforcement agencies to 30 percent by the year 2030.”

Dell served in a variety of roles, including leading the Internal Affairs Unit, Captain and Public Information Officer during her 15 years at the NHPD. Campbell described what he sees as the imbalance of opportunities for women in executive leadership and stated his commitment to ensuring the representation of women in policing.

Currently, 16 percent of YPD’s force is women, Campbell told the New Haven Independent. Nationwide only 12 percent of police officers are women.

“From the time I was sworn in … one of my goals is to make sure that there are females represented on the highest level of leadership in this organization,” Campbell said. 

Campbell highlighted Dell’s experience in policy writing, policy development, crash reconstruction, internal affairs and numerous leadership positions in New Haven. Campbell also noted that both Dell and Healy received executive training from the Police Executive Research Forum and the FBI National Academy.

In his time at the NHPD, Healy served as captain and deputy commander for the SWAT team — Special Weapons And Tactics. The YPD Captain position was vacated after former Captain William Kraszewsky retired in February after 34 years on the force. Healy told the News that he decided to join the YPD because it offered him the opportunity to stay in New Haven and continue working in policing. 

“Having already developed a deep understanding of the geographical area and the communities within New Haven during my time with the New Haven Police Department, joining the Yale Police Department felt like a seamless transition,” Healy wrote in an email to the News. “I am excited about the chance to contribute to the safety and security of Yale and its surrounding areas, and I believe my experience and knowledge will be valuable assets in this role.”

Campbell highlighted Healy’s emergency service and SWAT experience as well as his time leading investigative service units. 

Three other officers were sworn in at the ceremony. Gregg Curran and Raymund Dejesus were promoted to detectives after retirements in 2023 left two vacant positions. Gabrielle Kado was elevated to sergeant after a sergeant resigned in November.

The Yale Police Department was founded in 1894.