Biography

Chief Peter J. Robbins passed away suddenly on March 5, 2012. Son of the late Chief of Police David W. Robbins, he was born in Greenwich on Sept 11, 1945. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, attended Sacred Heart University, Norwalk Community College and was a graduate of Iona College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Criminal Justice.

He served proudly in the U.S. Army, 272nd Military Police Company, 1st Field Force, Vietnam.
Upon his return to Greenwich worked he briefly for Olin Chemical until deciding to follow in his father’s footsteps.

He joined the Greenwich Police Dept in 1970 as a patrolman. In 1976 he was assigned to the Detective Bureau, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1977. He was promoted to Lieutenant
in 1980. In 1981 he headed the crime prevention and training division. Elevated to Captain in 1984, he headed the criminal investigation division. He was appointed Deputy Chief in 1990 and in 1997 became Chief of Police, wearing the shield of his father who retired in 1963.

The recipient of many awards, he was awarded the Government Official of the Year Award in 1999, Policeman of the Year Award in 1990 and the 1995 Bell Award from the Greenwich Bar Association. He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy in 1980 and was a member of the National Academy Associates, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and the New England Association of Chiefs of Police. Proud of his Irish heritage, he was a founding member of the Greenwich Police Emerald Society. He and his brother Dave played in the Emerald Society Pipe Band which played at his graduation from the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. The Chief retired from the Greenwich Police Dept in 2002 and took a position as Chief of Security at Greenwich Hospital. In 2007 he moved to Lewes, DE, where he served as Chief of Uniformed Services for the DE Court System.

Predeceased by his parents and brother William, he is survived by his loving wife Eileen, daughter Colleen Glackin (Jeff), and son Timothy (Lauren) and grandchildren; Riley, Grace, Kendall, Keegan, and Connor Glackin, and Colin Robbins. He is also survived by his brother Dave (Carole), a former District Chief of the Greenwich Fire Dept, and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sat. March 10, 2012 at 11:30 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church, 178 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call at the Fred D. Knapp & Son Funeral Home, 267 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greenwich Police Scholarship Fund, % Chief James Heavey, 11 Bruce Place, Greenwich, CT 06830.

Calling Hours

Friday March 9, 2012, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Fred D. Knapp and Son Funeral Home
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Funeral Mass

Saturday March 10, 2012, 11:30 AM at St. Mary's R. C. Church
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Interment

Saturday March 10, 2012, 1:00 PM at St. Mary's Cemetery
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