Hurliman praised as new Shelton Chief
ANTHONY SPINELLI tspinelli@ctpost.com

The City Hall ceremony attracted roughly 160 relatives, friends and well-wishers.

"President Kennedy said effort and courage are not enough. You have to have purpose and direction. I'm here to provide that purpose and direction," Hurliman told the crowd.

He also paraphrased Colin Powell's remark that success is not an accident.

"It's the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failures," Hurliman said.

Mayor Mark Lauretti administered the oath.

"He goes above and beyond," Lauretti said of Hurliman.

Capt. Richard Arsenault led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Monsignor Richard Shea of St. Catherine's Church in Trumbull gave the invocation. Lt. Joseph Kudrak recited the Police Code of Ethics.

Capt. Michael Madden gave the welcoming remarks and made the introduction.

Hurliman takes up the post from former Chief Robert Voccola, who announced last May that he would step down.

Voccola formally left Feb. 25 after serving six years as the chief. In his years in office, Voccola built up the department's staffing and technology.

Hurliman is a longtime city resident who has been on the police force for more than two decades, working his way up from a supernumerary in 1978 to deputy chief.

He has been approved for a two-year contract with an annual salary of $88,000.

Hurliman is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management Command Training program, and the Police Leadership Development course at Bryant College.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut in 1977 and an associate's degree in criminal justice from Middlesex Community College in 1983.