Eckblom Promoted to Deputy Police Chief In South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Lt. Brian Eckblom has been promoted to deputy chief of the South Windsor Police Department, according to an announcement from Police Chief Kristian Lindstrom and Town Manager Michael Maniscalco.

Eckblom, a member of the department since 2004, was selected after a stringent testing process involving a national search for qualified candidates. He has assumed numerous responsibilities during his tenure, including emergency medical technician, field training officer, Police Officer Standards and Training Council certified instructor, certified accident reconstructionist and school resource officer at South Windsor High School. Most recently, he had been the Commander of the Special Services Division overseeing the Criminal Investigations Unit, Traffic Unit, and Youth & Victims Unit.

"I am excited at the opportunity to help lead the South Windsor Police Department as deputy chief," Eckblom told Patch. "Our agency has a wonderful and dedicated staff that serves a great town to live and work in. Chief Lindstrom and I will not lose sight of the hard work that has been achieved before us and the tasks ahead while continuing to strive to be a leader and innovator among police departments. Faced with the pandemic, civil unrest, political angst, increased accountability and uncertainty in the policing profession, I will be hitting the ground running to make sure that our department continues to focus on our mission statement and our high standards. One of my first areas of focus will be coordinating compliance with the 2020 Police Accountability Act."

Eckblom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Bates College and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Central Connecticut State University. He started in law enforcement as a reserve police officer in Wells, Maine, and also worked as a seasonal law enforcement ranger in Yellowstone National Park. Additionally, he volunteered with the Manchester Fire Department as an emergency medical technician and firefighter while managing his family's manufacturing company in Manchester prior to working in South Windsor.

Lindstrom told Patch, "I am extremely happy for Deputy Chief Eckblom and I feel he will make a great impact on the department and the community. He is a skilled communicator, strong leader, and has continuously exceeded the high standards we set for all of our employees. He brings with him to the position of deputy chief a vast array of experiences, education, and training that make him well-rounded and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. The residents and visitors of South Windsor will undoubtedly benefit from Brian being the new deputy chief of police."

Maniscalco told Patch, "Through the search process, Deputy Chief Eckblom showed a community understanding and professionalism that was not paralleled. Sometimes you just do not need to look very far for the right person."

"I congratulate Lt. Brian Eckblom on his appointment as deputy chief of police for South Windsor," Mayor Andrew Paterna told Patch. "Deputy Chief Eckblom has been an important part of our police department since 2004. The variety of assignments he has taken on since joining the department, as well as his certifications and his role as the department’s training coordinator and manager of the Youth & Victims Unit, commander of the Special Services Division, overseeing the Criminal Investigations Unit, Traffic Unit, and Youth & Victims Unit make him uniquely qualified to take on this new responsibility. I look forward to working with him."

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