Fox News reports the measure passed overwhelmingly (18 to 2) in a Democrat-dominated council, coming just days after federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.
Critics argue the decision was driven by political theater rather than public safety needs.
“There's no public policy reason behind what the council did. There's no demand that this will meet. It was done simply as a political narrative, overwhelmingly done by virtue signaling, and it's further dividing our city,” Candace Fay said, one of only two council member who voted against the policy.
She said this motion was considered by the council before the operations, and the council denied a request to postpone the vote because of high emotions due to the ICE. Part of why, she said, the story is generating headlines.
Fay insisted to “Fox & Friends First” that her objection isn’t about character, race or immigration status, but rather maintaining a clear line of authority.
“This is whether you should be a citizen to serve in an authoritative capacity to arrest citizens, to use force against citizens, to take and deprive citizens of liberty. This is not whether you are a good person,” Fay said.
Danbury’s Democratic mayor said it removes barriers for qualified residents to serve the city. Meanwhile, Joe Britton, a Democrat city council member, affirmed that Danbury is an immigrant city and those willing to serve should have a chance.
Again, Fay said it’s not overly egregious to ask for an objective standard that someone has to be a citizen to be a police officer.
Supporters on the council maintain the move expands the applicant pool without lowering hiring standards. But Fay says local leaders are simply playing to national political headlines.
The vote brings Danbury’s police hiring ordinance in compliance with the state’s Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which adopted those same standards in 2020 and 2025.
City officials and the Danbury Police Department have not yet commented publicly on the vote.
