Alumnus Robert Kalamaras Takes Oath as Fairfield Police Chief

‘If you have ambitions to be a police officer, Sacred Heart offers an outstanding program’

Sacred Heart University alumnus Robert Kalamaras ’17 took his oath as Fairfield’s new police chief Jan. 22.

A 21-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, Kalamaras most recently served as field services bureau commander, overseeing the patrol and investigative divisions, which comprise about 85% of the department. Prior to that, he commanded the special services bureau.

“I am humbled and honored to have been entrusted with the job of leading the Fairfield Police Department into the future. It is a task I do not take lightly, but it is one I know I can achieve by working hand-in-hand with the men and women in the department, with town leadership and with the members of the community,” Kalamaras said in a press statement

A veteran of the armed forces, Kalamaras attended Sacred Heart as a non-traditional, part-time student. His wife, Nicole Kalamaras ’05, ’13 MAT, a kindergarten teacher at Timothy Dwight Elementary School in Fairfield, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education at SHU while he was working as a police officer. He took over the care of their two young daughters when he came home at night so she could attend classes. Then he followed suit, earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2017. “Our continuing education was a team effort,” he said.

That team effort, coupled with a flexible work schedule and the family’s proximity to SHU, enabled Kalamaras to complete his degree. “Sacred Heart is an outstanding school. It is close, so it was convenient for us. But it also has a great education program and, for me, it had a great criminal justice program. It was a win all the way around for us,” he said.

Kalamaras said the professional faculty at Sacred Heart was impressive. “They had actual experience in the field,” he said. “Coming to school as a police officer, it was easy to interact with faculty who had been police officers before they started teaching.” He described a mutually beneficial relationship with his instructors, saying, “They gave me perspective, and I was able to keep them updated on contemporary police issues.”

Sacred Heart’s criminal justice program is perfect for traditional and continuing education students, according to Kalamaras. “If you have ambitions to be a police officer, Sacred Heart offers an outstanding program with real-life expertise that will help translate your experience from academia to actually working on the streets as an officer,” he said.

One of Kalamaras’ mentors in the Fairfield Police Department was former chief Gary MacNamara, the University’s executive director of public safety and governmental affairs. “He’s like a big brother,” Kalamaras said. “He was instrumental in ‘flipping the switch’ for me, and once it was on, he kept it on. Gary was a great guide for me as I navigated promotions and faced issues in my career. He gave me a great foundation.”

MacNamara had high praise for Kalamaras, as well. “Bob always gives 110 percent to any position he has held. He will accomplish great things for the Fairfield Police Department and for the greater Fairfield community. These challenging times require smart, engaged and compassionate police leaders. Bob is that and more. Our communities need law enforcement partners, and Bob is a great one. I am so happy for him upon his appointment,” MacNamara said.

One of Kalamaras’ primary goals as police chief is to focus on community policing, which includes forming partnerships within the community. “Right now, given the scrutiny of law enforcement nationwide, I think it’s important for us to be ambassadors for law enforcement. The only way to do that is to get those who support us to continue to do so, and to try to bring those who don’t support us on board,” he said.

Kalamaras credits his time working in the motorcycle unit of Fairfield’s special services bureau with teaching him the importance of community policing. “That’s vital, especially in the current climate. When you pull up on a motorcycle, people will walk up to it and start talking to you. There aren’t the barriers you have sitting in a car,” he said.

Having that access helped Kalamaras establish relationships in the community, which he sees as important. “Without the community, we couldn’t do our jobs,” he said.

Officer wellness is another key focus for Kalamaras. “The public scrutiny of the police frustrates some officers because they get painted with a broad brush,” he said. “On a day-to-day basis, we deal with everyone’s worst day. That can be taxing on a person’s psyche.”

Such demands require resilience, Kalamaras observed, and to achieve that, officers have to understand the demands and learn ways to combat them.” According to Kalamaras, effective coping strategies include physical fitness, post-critical-incident debriefing, yoga, mindfulness training or simply reading a book.

“In this profession, we tend to not think about ourselves; we tend to think outward,” Kalamaras said, adding that providing resources that enable officers to decompress is essential to their well-being.

Kalamaras also graduated from the FBI National Academy’s three-month, residential program in Quantico, VA, which he said helped him prepare to be a police chief. “It’s not just academic. It’s physical fitness and personal wellness, as well. Looking back, I think of it as ‘chief training.’ The training gives you the tools you need to be a good leader and a good ambassador for police officers and the police profession,” he said.

Sacred Heart may become a Kalamaras family tradition. The two daughters, now teenagers, are considering SHU for their education. “We are definitely encouraging them to attend Sacred Heart,” Kalamaras said. The girls are student-athletes: the 15-year-old plays lacrosse, and the 14-year-old plays year-round basketball.

Kalamaras plans to return to Sacred Heart and earn his master’s degree in public administration. “I think it would be good for my career. The more you can learn and pass on to your people, the better your organization,” he said.