Obituaries

Obituary: Retired Stamford Police Chief George Mayer

Chief Mayer was a member of the department's first anti-narcotic, gambling and organized crime squad.


Retired Stamford Police Chief George W. Mayer passed away peacefully at his Stamford home on Friday, July 5. He was 84.

Chief Mayer was born in Stamford on Nov. 18, 1928, he was the son of the late George W. Mayer Sr. and Isobel Dean Mayer.

He was a 1946 graduate of Stamford High School, Class of 1946. He served in the U.S Army from 1946 to 1948 and again from 1950 to 1953. While stationed in Germany, he served as Ordance Officer for the 28th Infantry Division.

He was appointed a patrolman with the Stamford Police Department in 1959. In 1960 he graduated from the first ever “Conn. Chiefs of Police Academy” held in Bethany, CT. In 1964 he was assigned to the Detective Bureau as a plainclothes officer. Later that year he was assigned with Det. Thomas Rowan to form the department's first anti-narcotic, gambling and organized crime squad. In 1967 he was promoted to detective and in 1974 he was promoted to lieutenant and served as shift commander in the uniform division. In 1975 he graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy and in 1976 he was appointed commander of the department’s Special Services Squad.

In 1981 he was appointed to Deputy Chief in charge of operations, commanding the Uniform Division, Detective Bureau, Special Services Squad, the Youth Bureau and the Identification Bureau. On two occasions during 1987 and 1988 he was appointed acting chief while the city conducted a nationwide search for a chief of police. He was appointed Chief of Police on Aug. 8, 1988 and served until his retirement in April 1994, ending a 35-year career.

During his career, Chief Mayer received numerous citations and commendations from municipal, state and federal law enforcement and government agencies from around the country.

He was also a member of the Stamford Police Association, the Police Association of CT, International Association of Chiefs of Police, F.B.I. National Academy Association, BPO Elks Lodge, No.899, American Legion Post No. 3, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9617, The State Street Debating Society and the Springdale Fire Department.

Prior to his retirement Chief Mayer was a member of the Fairfield County Detectives Conference, The CT Police Chiefs Association, National Narcotics Enforcement Association, National Association of Bunco Investigators, International Association of Homicide Investigators, International Association of Arson Investigators and the Tri-State Organized Crime Council.

Chief Mayer is survived by several nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Hunley Mayer, in 2006.

In accordance with Chief Mayer’s wishes, there will be no calling hours and no funeral services. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Building, Memphis, TN 38105

The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, CT 06902 is honored to assist the Mayer family with the arrangements.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here