John Healy is chief of the Yale Police Department (YPD). He is an accomplished law enforcement leader who has served in both the Yale and New Haven Police Departments, building strong relationships with members of the campus and New Haven communities. He is known for a lead-from-the-front approach to crime reduction and strengthening operational effectiveness.
Healy was named chief in August 2026 following a comprehensive national search, after serving as acting chief since early 2026. During his tenure at Yale, Healy has guided the department through significant leadership transitions while advancing Yale Public Safety (YPS) and broader university initiatives. He has also fortified the department’s strong relationship with the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), leading meaningful pilot programs focused on maintaining exceptional levels of service and rapid response times to community concerns, including noise complaints, disturbances, and theft.
Healy began his law enforcement career in 2004 with the NHPD. During his tenure, he served on the SWAT team, Accident Reconstruction Team, and as a field training officer. In 2009, he was selected as a task force officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on a year-long investigation.
Promoted to sergeant in 2013, Healy served as a first-line supervisor in the Patrol Division before transferring to the Investigative Services Division (ISD), where he supervised the Street Interdiction Unit and later the Shooting Task Force. In 2017, he was promoted to lieutenant, serving as district manager for District 4 (Dwight/Chapel/Kensington) and District 10 (Whalley/Edgewood/Beaver Hills).
In 2021, Healy was promoted to captain and appointed officer in charge of the ISD, overseeing Major Crimes, the Bureau of Identification, the Special Victims Unit, School Resource Officers, the Police Athletic League, the Intelligence Unit, the Shooting Task Force, Federal Task Force Officers, and all investigative operations for the City of New Haven.
As captain, Healy led significant advancements in investigative technology and public safety infrastructure. Utilizing American Rescue Plan Act and other grant funding, he helped establish a real-time crime center, implemented FUSUS software, facilitated the acquisition of on-site NIBIN, Cellebrite, and rapid DNA systems, and oversaw the deployment of more than 500 cameras and license plate readers citywide, substantially increasing case solvability and operational efficiency.
Healy also served as deputy commander of the NHPD Emergency Services Unit (ESU), overseeing SWAT operations and the deployment of the Hostage Negotiations Team and Hazardous Devices Unit, bringing more than 13 years of SWAT/ESU leadership experience. Following his retirement from the NHPD, he joined the YPD in 2023 as captain of patrol operations, community engagement, and emergency services.
Throughout his career, Healy has received recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, DEA, and numerous community organizations. He was named NHPD Officer of the Year in 2020. Healy holds a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Marist College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Haven. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (282nd Session) and the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Policing (78th Session).