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Thursday, May 19, 2011

MORE HPD FALLOUT: ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER LAWSUIT?

As more layers get peeled back regarding the Administration at the Hartford Police Department, one thing is becoming very clear, the "independent outside investigators" will definitely have their hands full.

Looking at the problems from the outside, it seems that many decisions are being made without any regard for the City's liability or even the rights of individual employees. Below are the details of one recent incident that will eventually be landing in Court, unless the City uses some common sense first.

The details laid out below probably would never be tolerated in the "real" corporate world. I would venture to say that if any administrator or even a Human Resources director opened a private employer up to potential liability by ill advised or vindictive decisions, they would be on the unemployment line quickly.

In the case of a police officer, their biggest asset is their reputation and their integrity. Any attempt to question that had better be made based on solid information, and only after a thorough investigation has been conducted. Every effort should be made to ensure the highest level of confidentiality to protect the individuals reputation.

Whether it is an employee of the Aetna or a Hartford Police officer, professionalism should be the number one requirement when it comes to investigating allegations.That was not the case below.

Based on anonymous allegations, which eventually turned out to be not so anonymous but were actually unsubstantiated allegations made by one HPD Sergeant to another Sergeant, this incident began to snowball.

I normally don't redact names from documents, but in this case since the allegations were purely hearsay and gossip, I have chosen to redact the officer's name to avoid further damage to their reputation. The names of a Lieutenant and the two Sergeants have also been redacted until an outside investigation is complete.

The officer in question had been called into the office of Assistant Chief John Horvath and was advised that there was "hearsay" information that they were using narcotics.This is according to the officers attorney, Hugh Keefe, in a letter sent to Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts on March 30, 2011.

The officer volunteered to comply with an immediate drug test, hardly the logical behavior of a drug user. The department refused to provide a drug test and never followed through with subsequent offers to submit to a drug test. The officer has apparently had several drug tests done on their own. at their own personal expense.All of those reports have been negative for cocaine and marijuana as well as several other drugs. One of the reports can be seen after the PDF file of Attorney Keefe's letter below.

This matter may be directly linked to the removal of Internal Affairs Division Commander Lieutenant Neville Brooks. The officer apparently requested an Internal investigation into the way the matter was handled and whether Assistant Chief Horvath overstepped his boundaries in the way he handled unsubstantiated allegations and "hearsay" rumors. That investigation was apparently in the beginning stages when Brook's was removed.

At no time was the officer afforded his rights under the HPD Union Contract such as having a Union steward or Union representative present nor was he advised of his Miranda rights or his Garrity rights, basic labor law regulations that Assistant Chief Horvath or anyone else at his level of management should have been well aware of.

According to Attorney Keefe's letter, the original Sergeant contended that the information was coming to him through a "confidential source". It was later learned that the information was actually coming from another Sergeant in the Patrol Division who denied making the statement when he was confronted.

Keefe's letter claims that the Department and Assistant Chief Horvath's actions "failed to maintain confidentiality causing severe and irreparable damage to "redacted officers"reputation. If that doesn't scream out "large jury award", I don't know what does.

This is only the beginning. If you wonder about the degrees of discipline at HPD, read the letter below and make your own conclusions. Then over the next couple of weeks I will be posting about clearly documented and verified incidents that took a much different direction. Even incidents clearly documented, some actually caught by video, were hardly even noticed.

It promises to be a very interesting "immediate independent investigation".

In the mean time Assistant Chief Horvath has been informed that his last day at HPD will be July 1,2011 due to budget cuts. The money might come in handy to pay future legal settlements. As a side note, I'm being told there was an "abruptly" scheduled meeting between Chief Roberts and Mayor Segarra for tomorrow at 4:00PM, that could prove very interesting.

Atty Keefe Horvath Letter

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

CHIEF'S COMPLEX CUTS


Numerous sources are telling me that two Assistant Chief's at the Hartford Police Department have been told that their positions will be eliminated as a result of budget cuts made last night by the Hartford City Council.

Both Assistant Chief Brian Heavren and Assistant Chief John Horvath have apparently been told that July 1, 2011 will be their last day at HPD. Although it is being explained as the result of budget cuts, it seems hard to ignore the fact of the impending "independent investigation" that is looming over the Chief's complex at Jennings Road. Both Horvath and Heavren as well as every other Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief and even Chief Roberts himself potentially will be under scrutiny as a result of allegations of wrongdoing.

Much of this has been brought to light as a result of the Internal Affairs Commander, Lieutenant Neville Brooks, being abruptly removed from his position . Allegations have been made that Brooks was conducting IAD investigations that involved members of the Chief's ranks that were coming too close to the "Exalted" class of Chief's. The Chief's paint a different picture that Brook's was discourteous in the interviews of them, although recordings made of the interviews apparently don't back those claims up.

Sources familiar with the recordings claim that the questionings were professional and in line with normal practices. At least two of the Chief's were actually given their Garrity rights before being questioned which apparently insulted the "exalted" even more.

As a side note, other sources have advised me that the "independent investigation" may be conducted by the New York State Police, the same agency that was requested to conduct a review of the Connecticut State Police a few years ago. No official confirmation is available on that yet.This could be problematic for HPD if many of the comments posted here prove true, as the investigation will not be a whitewash of the information, but will actually go where the truth leads investigators.

This promises to go deeper as the hornet's nest is poked more and the information keeps coming out.

The budget cuts aren't a definite done deal yet as the Mayor could veto the Council's resolution. It seems that there would be the necessary votes to override the Mayor's veto by the Council. The other side of the coin though is that the Mayor is most likely not thrilled with any hint of a scandal being condoned by him in an election year, and a hotly contested election at that. The selective cuts by the Council seem to be sending a pretty clear message.

IS NOTHING SAFE IN HARTFORD? COPPER'S COPPER STOLEN


According to police sources, much of the copper piping that has been installed at the new Public Safety Complex on High Street has been stolen in the last 72 hours. A large portion of the copper was found to be missing yesterday morning and more was found missing this morning.

But if nothing else, the thieves need to understand that it is not smart to steal copper from the "coppers". By this afternoon, much of the copper has been located at a city scrapyard and the perpetrators can be readily identified through video and other safeguards in place. The copper piping was also readily identifiable by the type of couplings used to join the pipes together.

A timely arrest is expected.

Friday, May 13, 2011

OFFICER RASHIM CAMPBELL DEMANDS RE-INSTATEMENT

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.

HPD Rashim Campbell Letter

HARTFORD POLICE FIREARMS REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS CRY FOUL, CINTRON MEMBERS LIKELY TO FOLLOW

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

MORE HARTFORD POLICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DETAILS

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.”

N Brooks Atty Letter

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