Groton ― City of Groton Police Captain Patricia Lieteau will become acting police chief of the city’s police force on Friday, when Chief Erick Jenkins retires, and serve until the city swears in a new police chief.

The City Council on Monday approved her appointment, which City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick had recommended.

Hedrick said Lieteau is currently second in command and it makes sense that she would be the acting police chief until the new police chief is hired.

“I have full confidence in her and her abilities to manage the City of Groton police force until we have a new chief,” Hedrick said.

Lieteau, who also has been a police officer and sergeant with the department, formerly served with the New London Police Department and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police. She is the first woman to be police captain and the first female acting police chief in the city.

Hedrick said the city had nine candidates for the police chief position. An interview panel of police professionals interviewed the candidates and narrowed the field to five candidates. A second panel of Hedrick, Jenkins, and the city’s Human Resources department interviewed the five candidates and further narrowed the pool to three candidates. Hedrick then interviewed the three candidates and chose one who is not a current member of the department.

Hedrick anticipates he will announce the identity of the new police chief in a few weeks. Hedrick said he has issued an offer to the new police chief candidate and the candidate has accepted, but the city is in the process of doing a background check and other steps. Once those steps are completed, the new chief will be brought before the City Council and sworn in.

Lieteau was promoted to police captain in 2021, when Jenkins became police chief after former Chief Michael Spellman retired.

Hedrick said Jenkins will be missed and he wishes him good luck in his future endeavors and his retirement.

k.drelich@theday.com