Episode #37: Feeney Talks With Chief Riddick

Show Notes

Vern Riddick is the Police Chief of the West Hartford Police Department (WHPD). 

860-570-8960 

[e-mail]   

Chief Riddick was the Police Chief of the Waterbury Police Department 2013-2018. He has been serving as the Police Chief for the West Hartford Police Department since 2018.  

It was great to sit down and talk with Chief Riddick! 

We talked about: 

Being a Police Chief (minute 2.00) 

Savage Pallet Projects (minute 11) 

Favorite teachers (minute 15) 

Jordan and The Booker Family (minute 20) 

Incohearent with Feeney (minute 26.10) 

Being Waterbury's First African-American Police Chief (minute 32) 

Crazy Questions sponsored by Donut Crazy (minute 35)  

Shout outs: 

Donut Crazy  

WeHa Brewing and Roasting   

Directline Media  

Incohearent game 

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com