In a strongly worded letter from his attorney, former HPD Officer Rashim Campbell is demanding re-instatement to the police force.
In the letter, Attorney Sal Bonnano claims that Lt. Robert Ford's investigation when he was a Sergeant in Internal Affairs Division was "biased, unfair and slanted investigation" against Campbell.
The remainder of the letter is also strongly worded and lays out other accusations as well as demanding an independent investigation by an outside agency such as the Connecticut State Police. The letter is posted below.
I spoke with members of the City of Hartford Firearms Review Board last night and asked them if the Pawtucket Street shooting video influenced their decision making when they decided that the shooting was proper.
I received several blank stares and then angry comments as to "what video?". Apparently the video was withheld from the civilians on the Board and they were unaware of its existence. They stated that they are supposed to decide whether a shooting is justified or not based upon the facts, yet they were not given all of the facts.
This could also pose a problem on another front. At least three people that were part of the conversation are also members of the panel involved with the Cintron-Vaughn consent decree which still hangs over the head of HPD. They stated that they would be calling for a meeting next week to discuss these issues, particularly IAD issues which they believe are in violation of the Federal Court order
Much of this story has come out in bits and pieces, and much more will come out the same way as information is verified. I will eventually try to lay the whole story out so that even those not familiar with the "Police politics" and the players can follow and understand.
In the meantime, I received several calls yesterday afternoon regarding the letter from Attorney Bart Halloran to Mayor Segarra that was posted yesterday. In that letter it mentions the IAD investigations into several members of the Department, including the Chief of Police, Daryl. K. Roberts.
Since that posting has not been restored yet, I am reposting the letter here as well as Mayor Segarra's comments:
MAYOR SEGARRA DIRECTS POLICE CHIEF
TO ORDER INDEPENDENT REVIEW
---NEWS AND COMMUNITY STATEMENT---
(May 12, 2011) --- Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra issued this statement today regarding the Hartford Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division:
“I have already met with Police Chief Daryl Roberts and have directed him to order an immediate independent review of the IAD. As matters continue to unfold, I reserve my right to take additional action to preserve the integrity, trust, and public safety of the community.”
I hadn't heard the Chief mentioned as a target of any investigations, other than the fact that he was in charge.
Apparently the IAD investigation into the Pawtucket Street shooting was leading towards involvement by the Chief and his actions the night of the shooting.
On the night of the Pawtucket Street shooting the officers involved were removed from the shooting scene and taken to the Hartford Police Union office at 20 Sargent Street in Hartford. Former Union President Richard Rodriguez and at the time Vice President Richard Holton as well as others were in the Union Office (Holton has since been elected as Union President to replace Rodriguez).
For some reason former Mayor Eddie Perez and Chief Roberts were also in attendance at the union office. The videographer who had been filming a documentary with the officers involved in the shooting, Jeffrey Teitler, was also in the Union office. From what sources are telling me, Lieutenant Scott Sansom,(now Deputy Chief Sansom} who was the commander of the Intelligence Division at the time was also present.
After the shooting, sources have told me that Sansom secured Teitler's video camera in the trunk of his unmarked cruiser. Once the State Police took over the investigation, the video contained on the "v-card" in Teitler's camera became a critical part of evidence for the investigation. A "v-card" is similar to a flash drive and stores the video rather than using a video tape. The "v-card" plugs into a slot on the camera.
At some point during the evening, from what sources are telling me, a conversation took place between Chief Roberts, former Mayor Perez and Union President Rich Rodriguez. Subsequent to that conversation, Rodriguez and Teitler left the Union Office, along with the "v-card". It is not known yet exactly what the conversation was or why the "critical evidence" contained on the "v-card " left the Union Office.
Apparently that was an issue with State Police investigators and again, from what several sources are telling me, the "v-card" only reappeared after Rodriguez was threatened with arrest for interfering with the investigation.
The investigation seemed to have been sitting around for a while, but after Sgt. Rodriguez lost his bid for re-election, he had to go back to regular duty. That created a problem because Chief Roberts apparently wanted to assign him to IAD as an investigator. Since the Pawtucket Street investigation was still open, it had to be completed and closed out.
Chief Robert's, according to sources, ordered Lt. Brooks to complete the investigation
It seems that was the direction that the investigation was going when former Lt. Sansom, now Deputy Chief Sansom and Chief Roberts were apparently drawn into the investigation.
Sansom, as commander of the Intelligence Division was also the direct supervisor for several of the officers involved in the shooting incident and clearly pictured on the video.
The picture keeps becoming clearer as more information comes out, but it seems pretty clear already that IAD was not a welcome addition in the Chief's Complex when looking into an incident like the Pawtucket Street shooting.
Hopefully the "immediate independent investigation" ordered today by Mayor Segarra will continue down the path to the truth that it seems like Lt. Brooks and his investigators were headed down
The blog has been down for the last 24 hours, but there was no conspiracy.
Blogger, which is run by Google as "blogspot.com" apparently had server issues for all of the blogs they host after a recent update. Eventually they had to rollback to Wednesday morning and are now in the process of restoring those posts.
In the meantime, everything seems to be up and running again.
Sources are telling me that a letter has been delivered to Mayor Segarra today from the attorneys for Lieutenant Neville Brooks requesting an outside investigation into actions at the Hartford Police Department, specifically the Internal Affairs Division.
According to the sources, shortly after the letter was received, Chief Daryl K. Roberts was summoned to the Mayor's Office.
Numerous issues have been raised here on the blog as well as numerous comments calling for an outside investigation.
This afternoon Mayor Segarra ordered Chief Roberts to initiate an "immediate independent review" into the IAD matter.
Here is Mayor Segarra's statement:
(May 12, 2011) --- Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra issued this statement today regarding the Hartford Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division:
“I have already met with Police Chief Daryl Roberts and have directed him to order an immediate independent review of the IAD. As matters continue to unfold, I reserve my right to take additional action to preserve the integrity, trust, and public safety of the community.”
Please keep posting details here, or contact me personally if you feel more comfortable with that. Shining light on these things does make a difference.
Below is the letter from Lieutenant Brooks' attorney to Mayor Segarra requesting the outside investigation:
It seems that the Superintendent of Schools in Shelton,Connecticut Freeman Burr, who has apparently dug his heels in regarding the James Tate prom ordeal was previously at the Hartford Board of Education as their "Human Resources Executive".
I knew there had to be a tie to Hartford, it's just too crazy to make sense.
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS BLOG ARE STRICTLY THAT, MY OPINIONS.After getting fed up with the lack of openness in Hartford City Hall, I decided to begin a program on Hartford Public Access Television called "WE THE PEOPLE". Through tips received we have been able to expose numerous issues that the Perez Administration would prefer to keep quiet.
Any information received is kept in strict confidence, feel free to e-mail me at krbrookman@earthlink.net or call me at 860-883-2297 with any information.