Chief Neil O'Leary

Senator Lieberman recognized Waterbury Chief of Police Neil O'Leary as a "Joe's Hero" for his years of public service and his admirable dedication in solving the sexual assault case of Donna Palomba.

Chief O'Leary has served the City of Waterbury as a police officer for over twenty-five years. He began his service in 1980 in the Patrol Division, Records Division, and the Criminal Investigations Bureau. In 1991, he was promoted to Sargeant and ten years later he had become a Captain and the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau. In 2004, he was named the nineteenth Chief of Police of the Waterbury Police Department.

Chief O'Leary is being recognized not only for his dedication to public safety in Waterbury, but also the incredible job he did in solving Waterbury resident Donna Palomba's sexual assault cold case. In September of 1993, Mrs. Palombo was the victim of a sexual assault in her own home, but through a series of unfortunate circumstances, a perpetrator was not identified. Through brilliant and tireless detective work, Chief O'Leary was able to identify the perpetrator in 2004 through a DNA match. His hard work led to an arrest, conviction, and justice being served in Mrs. Palombo's case.

"Chief O'Leary is the embodiment of what law enforcement can be," said Lieberman. "The values he takes to work everyday represent the values of his community, his state, and his country."