Chief of Police
Watertown Police Department
Watertown, Connecticut, United States
Chief Bernegger is a 28 year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as the Chief of Police for the Watertown (CT) Police Dept.
Chief Bernegger holds a BS from Eastern Conn. State Univ., a MBA from Post Univ., and is a graduate of Session #255 of the FBI National Academy.
Chief Bernegger's three areas of emphasis are: The wellness of his staff, the wellness of the community he serves, and traffic safety.
Under his leadership, the Watertown PD has earned consecutive “Serve-well, Be well” awards from the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, as well as Connecticut’s top tier of professional law enforcement accreditation.
Chief Bernegger has served as a vice president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Assoc., and currently chairs their Traffic Safety Committee. Chief Bernegger is an appointed member of Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, a member of PAARI’s Public Safety Council and an active participant in the Litchfield County Opioid Taskforce. Chief Bernegger is proud to have Watertown selected as a pilot community for the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) program in Connecticut.
From Innovation to Growth: The Expanding Role of Deflection in Community Health
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM MT