Executive Officer

Captain Heather Burnes is second-in-command in the Bethel Police Department. Captain Burnes was hired in 2000 and in her career she has served as; Patrol Officer, Bike Officer, Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, Police Instructor, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, and as a Certified Crime Prevention Officer.  Captain Burnes also oversaw the field training program for new hires as the Field Training Coordinator.

In September of 2015, she was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the patrol division while also being assigned the management and oversight of attaining of national accreditation through CALEA. In November of 2018, she was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned as the Patrol Operations Commander in charge of all police operations directly relating to the public. In July of 2020 she was promoted to Captain.

Captain Burnes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Justice and Law Administration from Western Connecticut State University.