Norwood turns to former colleague

By: Reed Williams | Times-Dispatch
Published: December 16, 2008

Sydney G. Collier wants to help expand community policing in Richmond.

Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood yesterday named a former colleague from Connecticut as his chief of staff.

Sydney G. Collier, a police lieutenant in New Haven, Conn., will serve as a major under Norwood effective Jan. 5. Collier will leave his job in New Haven on Jan. 2.

Collier, 41, who has about 17 years of law-enforcement experience, said he plans to help Norwood expand community-policing strategies that were in place when Norwood started as Richmond's chief in November.

"I've done community policing my whole career," Collier said in a phone interview. "The community has a say, and it's important to understand their concerns. When you listen to the community and they know you're listening, then they'll listen to you."

Collier will manage day-to-day operations for Norwood, including budgetary duties, policy interpretation and investigations of complaints against officers.

Norwood has known Collier for more than 10 years. Norwood started working for the New Haven Police Department in 1989 and became chief in Bridgeport, Conn., in 2006.

Collier started working in New Haven in 1992. He received narcotics training there from Norwood.

During his career in New Haven, Collier was commander of the narcotics unit for more than three years and also ran a firearms squad made up of federal authorities, Connecticut state police and New Haven officers.

He also supervised a community affairs division that handled missing-person cases, sexual assaults, hate crimes and offenses by juveniles. He was part of a motorcycle unit for about four years.

Collier has a master's degree in business from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven.

Norwood praised the Richmond Police Department's progress in crime reduction and prevention.

"I'm bringing in a key player for that team who will provide direction from an administrative standpoint as well as having an understanding of operations and patrol," Norwood said. "Major Collier is a strong addition to our leadership team."
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com.