The Danbury City Council in Connecticut voted 18-2 to amend its police hiring rules, allowing lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients to apply for city police officer positions. The change aligns Danbury with statewide standards set by Connecticut's Police Officer Standards and Training Council and has prompted criticism from council member Candace Fay, a Republican, who argues citizenship should remain a requirement for officers who can make arrests and use force.

The council's decision brings local rules in line with the state body, which extended eligibility to lawful permanent residents in 2020 and to DACA recipients in 2025. Democratic Mayor Roberto Alves and council member Joe Britton defended the move as removing barriers for qualified residents who want to serve their community, while Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour had previously cited recruitment challenges. Fay rejected the policy as unnecessary "virtue signalling" that fails to address any genuine staffing need, insisting her objection rests solely on an objective citizenship standard rather than any bias.