Chief Joshua N. Bernegger

Chief Bernegger began his law enforcement career with the Naugatuck Police Department in 1997, retiring as Deputy Chief of Police after serving for 21 years. Chief Bernegger was hired by the Watertown Police Department in 2019 to serve as Deputy Chief of Police, and was appointed as Chief of Police in 2021.

Chief Bernegger holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Post University. Chief Bernegger is a proud graduate of Session #255 of the FBI National Academy, and holds Municipal Legal Traffic Authority certification through the Connecticut Transportation Institute.

Chief Bernegger has focused his decision-making around three areas of emphasis: 1) The wellness of his officers and staff, 2) the wellness of the community he serves, and 3) traffic safety.

Under his leadership, the Watertown (CT) Police Department earned consecutive “Serve-well, Be well” awards from the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, as well as Connecticut’s top tier of professional law enforcement accreditation.

Chief Bernegger currently serves as chairman of the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association’s Traffic Safety Committee, and is an appointed member of Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee. Chief Bernegger also serves as a member of PAARI’s Public Safety Council and is an active participant in the Litchfield County Opioid Taskforce. Chief Bernegger is proud to have Watertown selected as a pilot community for the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) program in Connecticut.