Chief Tracey Gove (ret.) served for 24 years with the West Hartford, Connecticut, Police Department, one of the largest suburban police agencies in Connecticut. He rose through the ranks serving in Patrol, Traffic, Community Interaction, Detective Division, and Special Investigations. He ultimately served as chief of police for six years. During his tenure as chief, he led a professionally recognized police department into the 21st century in areas of technology, emergency response, community relations, community partnerships, and customer service.

As a lifelong learner, Chief Gove brought his passion for education into the police department. He collaborated with a local university and helped to develop a fully accredited master’s degree program. Reserved solely for sworn members of law enforcement, officers were able to take classes at the police department and earn a specialized master’s degree in criminal justice, offered only through this particular program.

Chief Gove has authored nearly a dozen articles on management and leadership issues. His writing include a seminal piece on implicit bias that was well ahead of its time and received much attention when national events surrounding police use of force surfaced. The article has been referenced and cited by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the US Department of Justice Community Relations Service, and the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Chief Gove holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Hartford. He is a graduate of FBI LEEDS Session #71; the U.S. Coast Guard Senior Leadership Principles and Skills Session #71; Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School Diversity Management program; and Harvard Law School’s program on Intensive Negotiations for Executives. He holds a certificate in Local Government Management from the International City/County Management Association.

Chief Gove spent nearly a decade serving on a variety of boards and commissions relating to civil and human rights. He has also held appointments as an adjunct faculty member in local colleges.

In 2017, Chief Gove retired from policing. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Operations, Corporate Security, for a large, multinational Fortune 100 financial institution.