The Danbury City Council has voted to allow lawful permanent residents and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to apply for positions within the city's police force, a move that has ignited a debate over citizenship requirements for law enforcement. The council approved the change with an 18-2 vote.
Danbury City Council member Candace Fay, a Republican, voiced strong opposition to the decision, stating it does not enhance city safety and was driven by political motives. "I don't think it is in any way intended to make our city feel safer," Fay said. "There's no public policy reason behind what the council did. There's no overarching need for police officers in our city. There's no demand that this will meet. It was done simply as a political narrative, overwhelmingly done by virtue signaling, and it's further dividing our city."
Fay argued that U.S. citizenship should remain a prerequisite for individuals entrusted with law enforcement powers, including arrest and the use of force. "I'm asking for an objective standard. I'm asking that someone be a citizen. That's it," she stated. "It is a reasonably objective standard whether they should be a citizen in order to be a police officer and enforce the state of Connecticut laws over citizens."
The change aligns Danbury's hiring practices with those of the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which expanded eligibility to lawful permanent residents in 2020 and DACA recipients in 2025. According to city records, Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour has previously acknowledged recruitment challenges and expressed a desire to attract the "best qualified candidates."
Mayor Roberto Alves, a Democrat, defended the policy, asserting that it removes barriers for qualified individuals who are already residents and wish to serve their community. "(This) vote was about removing an unnecessary barrier for qualified people who already call Danbury home and want to serve their community," Alves said, according to The Danbury News-Times.
City Council member Joe Britton, a Democrat, also supported the policy, stating, "Danbury is an immigrant city and I believe someone who is lawfully here, committed to our community and willing to raise their hand and take an oath to protect and serve should have the opportunity to do so."