Police Chief Rilling will likely be unhappy as he reads the newspapers today. Reinstated office Liam Callahan is back in the news, this time he was charged in Newtown with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace. John Nickerson reports:
Callahan, who was fired for a year after taking a skull fragment from an accident scene in 2005 but later was reinstated, turned himself in at Newtown police headquarters Tuesday evening, Newtown Capt. Joe Rios said.
Callahan’s arrest sparked an internal Norwalk police investigation that could result in his second firing, a police source said. Callahan was placed on administrative leave June 9, the day the Newtown incident took place.
Officer William Curwen, president of the police union, said he was shocked to hear about it.
“Whatever happens, the union is going to do what we have to do to protect Callahan’s labor issues and try to fight for his job,” Curwen said.
Little is known about the early-morning incident at a restaurant on Church Hill Road. Shortly after the investigation began, Newtown police issued a statement saying a man called headquarters to report that a man he did not know pointed a gun at him. The man told police the threat took place at 1:30 a.m. June 9 in the restaurant’s bathroom.
But officer Callahan is the least of Rilling’s problems. The Hour’s Noelle Frampton reports:
“If people knew, in general, what was going on, I think there would be a public outcry,” said Police Chief John Cashin of Tisbury, Mass., a former Norwalk captain and department member for 25 years. “The city of Norwalk deserves more than it’s getting.”
Cashin said Wednesday that he left the department last August partly because of a lack of discipline. The matter of Officer Liam Callahan, who was fired for mishandling a piece of human skull but then reinstated by the state Board of Labor Relations, was the final straw, he said.
“It was just something I couldn’t associate with anymore. Things were getting so out of hand. I think whoever is going to lead that department has got to just pick up the carpet by the ends and shake everything. The culture of a department comes from the top down.”
Cashin said department morale is in the dumps because officers aren’t held to high standards. From excessive force to reckless driving to insubordination to simply coming in late, officers don’t get punished properly and departmental drama resembles a soap opera set, he and others said.In what some consider the latest episode in a long-running series of wrist-slapping, Officer Russell Ouellette is back to work. Ouellette was on paid administrative leave for more than two years after he was accused of covering up his son’s alleged impersonation of a policeman, and was granted a two-year state probation program last month that will likely result in dropped charges.
Ouellette was required to serve an unpaid 90-day suspension, the last 30 days held in abeyance based on his behavior. He served the first 30 days, then began “working in a limited capacity” as a desk and communications officer until the end of August, and will serve the final 30 days after that, said Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling.
“This was arranged with the union so that we could accommodate our manpower needs,” he said, adding that Ouellette is responsible for updating his own training before returning to the street.
During his leave, he accrued salary, vacation and sick days while working a second job, other policemen said.
“If you could walk the halls invisibly, it would be very easy to hear the unrest, the apathy and the discord that resounds throughout that building,” Cashin said. “When I was there I was very loyal to the chief, and I know he’s not going to like these statements, but maybe it should be viewed as a last-ditch effort to get somebody to wake up to what’s been going on in that department for years. I will tell the truth and I’ll accept the consequences for it.”
Cashin left around the same time as former Deputy Chief Mark Palmer, now police chief in Coventry, and Michael Dolhancryk, former city director of combined communications and emergency preparedness planning.
Rilling naturally defended his department.
But Rilling said people often like to gripe, but they don’t know all the facts — and a few disgruntled officers do not represent the views of the whole department.
“I think my history has shown that (a lackluster approach to discipline) not to be the case. If you look back at my history, there is not a chief prior to me who has taken the number of serious disciplinary actions that I’ve taken. Has my discipline been perfect? I would say probably not. Very few things are, but you do the best you can. I believe I’ve been fair. If you talk to the union, I’m much too severe.”
It does seem that the number of high-profile police discipline cases has been rising within the past decade. Rilling, chief since 1995, has fired or asked for the resignations of four officers and demoted a former sergeant by two ranks within the past five years. The officers’ alleged offenses ranged from sexual assault to bribe extortion and stealing.
Except that routine police work, such as actually interrogating the alleged suspect “Todd” in the Pagano pron case, and filing the paperwork so that prosecutors could shut down brothels posing as spas is not getting done either. Norwalk, it turns out, does not have a good reputation when it comes to investigating crimes. The drug dealers operate in the open on woodward ave. a few blocks south of the Police station, an area well known to police departments in other cities in Connecticut. Police officials from New Haven, Danbury and Stamford have all spoken about the frustrations in dealing with Norwalk since Rilling became chief in 1995.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia stood behind Rilling’s administration and was angry that Cashin and other unhappy officers didn’t come to him and other police commissioners before speaking to the press. He called Cashin’s exposĂ© “disingenuous.
“He should worry about handling where he is now,” Moccia said Wednesday. “I have faith in (Rilling). The police commission has faith. There’s no perfect world when you’re disciplining people. When he disciplines, he’s criticized and the police union takes it to arbitration. When he doesn’t discipline, he’s criticized. Sometimes you’re going to be criticized no matter where you go.”
Mayor Moccia’s support of Rilling may prove to backfire fairly quickly. Once again, sloppy police work is being defended by RIlling in the Crystal Spa raid, which may lead to the alleged madam having her case dismissed.
Norwalk Superior Court has no record of Kim’s co-defendants from the raid, three Korean women charged with prostitution, although they were supposed to be there this week.
“That’s weird,” said Diamond, who was looking for files on Dwyei Suok, Ky Sook Kim and Min Kim Wednesday. “I don’t understand it.”
Two of the women are New Jersey residents and one is from Flushing, N.Y., according to court records.
Often alleged prostitutes nabbed in “spa” raids don’t show up to court, said police Chief Harry Rilling. Rilling and Randall were unsure exactly how often that happens.
Those who do show up tend to be more invested in the business, Rilling said, adding that many tend to move out of state, and may be part of a human trafficking ring.
“It’s very, very difficult to track them down; difficult to tell if they’re coming back to court or not,” he said.
“Very often we encounter new people (at “spas”) and it’s really difficult to verify their identifications and the exact correct English spellings of their names,” Randall said. “One of the key elements is fingerprints.”
Sometimes, upon running a suspected prostitute’s fingerprints, police find she’d used a different name or a different spelling in the past, he said.
Rilling seems to have an unending supply of excuses. Maybe Mayor Moccia should take a look into that.Remember this May post?
Now I seem to remember reading something about this just a few weeks ago. What was it? Oh yes. John Nickerson reported on April 28th (emphasis mine):
A month ago, police asked state prosecutors to use the state’s Nuisance Abatement and Quality of Life Act to shut down 261 Tranquility and Nirvana Spa at 181 Main St.
That request was turned down because police did not act quickly enough to turn in their reports of earlier raids at those locations to the state’s Nuisance Abatement Unit before a one year deadline.Yesterday’s raid may help bolster the city’s complaint against Tranquility.
How many mistakes by Rilling’s department should be tolerated? The “blue code of silence” is not often breached. For former officers to openly criticize Rilling to the extent that is happening has gone well beyond the old adage of where there’s smoke there’s fire.
source: Advocate Norwalk officer arrested again, By John Nickerson, July 26, 2007
source: The Hour, Critics:Weak discipline plagues police dept., By NOELLE FRAMPTON, July 26, 2007
source: The Hour, Spa’s alleged ‘madam’ seeks return of cash, car after raid, By NOELLE FRAMPTON, July 26, 2007
“Police officials from New Haven, Danbury and Stamford have all spoken about the frustrations in dealing with Norwalk since Rilling became chief in 1995.”
What’s the souce for this?
Callahan…Gunn…Morris…it adds up fast.
The chief must get back to the basics of getting the NPD priorities in order of importance in where and what you want your officers stationed and looking for, to provide maximum safety for the taxpayer.
I am not saying this is true, but can there be a reason that we are having so many bank robberies? Can there be something that our PD patrols are lacking and the robbers have noticed it?
Something that we take as normal procedure and they take as a window of opportunity?
Hey, my observation is that the last two mayors have been frightened of this chief. They see him as some kind of political threat. They buddy up to him, play a lot of golf (Knopp) with him and think they can keep him on their good side. They let him run the show and hope he doesn’t sabotage their administration. Moccia better wake up. Rilling is for Rilling and no one else. Knopp bowed to Rilling on things where Rilling had no business sticking his nose.
Rilling thinks he’s somekind of rock star. He is a self centered, lack-luster chief who thinks he can remain above it all. Moccia be ware, he could bring down your administration. He ran Knopp around by a ring in his nose.
what more could I say,,so much for having a hair accross my ass with the police dept, not giving any credit to the officers, always whining about the crime,and picking apart crime stats.Saying there not using the resources wisely.Attacking the officers job preformance,,all so far from fact its pathetic.
Yes I was incorrect there wasn’t just a stabbing but assault by fork last 24 hours , yes my facts were lacking but not wrong.
I am also privy to a lot more that never makes it out here I’m sorry to say.
When are the oblivious going to get it, the ones who are always in the news on the fluff and not the serious matters facing our city.I’m told get a life yet living in Norwalk it is unattainable when I can’t walk around my own block after dusk without my service Glock.
I have family living on the Islands who know John who give him a decent grade for taking over a dept.Its funny how its being suggested its the chief problems and not the mayors ,of course who are the police commisioners previous employees of the city? or present
Maybe its time to clean house, give these officers some sign as a city we support them. I did recently the last couple of days say good officers have left, present day officers came from Meriden the police school itself they know the academy and its reputation.
Outside of this department, outside of this city opinions have been formed but its not always wise to rip apart a police chief and mayor until we have someone to replace them, and for the council well great job boys and girls but as you can see we have issues and its not just talk its fact.So much for Reed and Putnam? now what about Norwalk and its 90,000 residents?
I place the blame on the voters, myself included for not finding a way to change the tide,,this blog though is read by a lot of concerned residents who wonder what can I do,,add a post here? or ask for a change to the ones who have been elected..
So as I see it more articles from Framptom, Fenwick,Ginnocchio, oh yes and the regular four Lindsy,Nickerson, Stelloh and Breslow will make this election year a more visible one we still untill then have to walk our streets bank and buy simple things accross town because wearing a flack jacket for a loaf of bread has become unacceptable..quality of life issue I know,,
Just think clean it all up including the Norwalk river and by the way no one has any idea how many calls the state DEP gets to come to Norwalk and if my critics took the time to understand they would be surprised as well.not the political agenda but the residents
so clean up our act and i will go away , my rants have been news blurbs, my only real critics have been the press when I beat them to the story,,editors hate old news and news already reported,,maybe I can add some pictures here on the blog like the truck stuck under the bridge, the streets overflowed who ever posted that deserves a great photo award,,but they do make the administration look bad at times so what the Hour did a number on them today and the Advocate takes bites all the time,,well almost all the time..
I trust this one long enough not to be read,its ok there plenty of material coming just stick around I’m sure we are in for some more hard hitting facts by our news teams,,even when they don’t try they stumble onto something and once in a while accept an email from me,,
isn’t it about time we hear from our buddy and how great the K9 units are, and how I’m always picking apart our officers,,I have respect for all of them my kids will meet John when we go to the cape he is a great police Chief and would of made a good one here.
The storm drain behind the old police station is buried to a point you can’t even take a sample out of it can’t even see it with dirt and hay on it ,,cars leaking fuel and fluids are gone but the other drains that are connected to that one show contamination, someone reads this blog,,,,,,,,,
All should keep in mind that only the Chief (Rilling) and Deputy Chief (vacant) are NOT members of a union. Try managing an organization when all your managers (Captains, Lt., Sgt.etc. ) are members of unions.
This is not intended to lessen the impact of Cashin’s remarks; just a note for the record.
Be wary of the proposed reorganization; it would eliminate the deputy chief position.
Hey heres some food for thought !! Are you all aware that former Captain Cashin is also Reporter Noelle Framptons landlord !!!!!
Between this article and the one yesterday about the motorcycle accident , she should be fired !!!
yes she should be fired and given the job of mayor, what facts were distorted? what part of the articles did you have a problem with posting number seven? What makes you think 4 lines as compared to years of news stories we are going to take for granted..
My forensic buddies could say your !!!!! could lead to a outburst of sorts i trust you don’t own a gun? then your !!! could be a significant threat to your pets,,
Did she get a job that you were in line for?
Did she get a better rent than most?
Did she so what she wrote an article for uncle John ooopppps run with that one I dare you to.. sorry folks couldn’t resist a great red herring
I’m not here to defend but to point out anyone who can write like that and can uncover and point out facts should be thanked. She also knows who she rents off of if this is the case and I’m sure she knows who to send her rental check to,,ever dawn on you she needs a place to live
A District Attny in Norwalk courts rents from a leading opponett of the courts maybe you could have them kicked out and fired as well you seem to have a fair play agenda..
What about her reports on inner city kids in Norwalk,,yes we forget things with a selective memory old age maybe?
I think as part of government reform in Norwwalk there should be a review of various high ranking positions. I am proposing one of these acts to take a look at Public Safety in the City as whole. Does anyone have an idea how much The chiefs of the pd and fire department make each year? As part of a reform plan that I am working on I would look at the possibility of eliminating those positions. What would happen is that a Director of Public Safety would be created. Each deptarment would maintain two deputy chiefs that would have certain responsiblities. The Director would oversee every decision made with ability to change, and pick up other duties. We would pay this person no more than 110k they would have support staff including an assistant director. By eliminating the two cheif positions and their support staff transfering some staff to other internal departments and the rest to the new created department the City would still save money. This would be an appointed position and would have to be confirmed by the Council.
the problem with the fire dept is a chief needs to address the latest In fire ground and emergency training technics, This changes all the time and the country as a whole changes all the time as well. The need to be on the cutting edge in firefighting and hazmat has been pointed out our firefighters as a whole are in danger throughout the country .
Osha has just come out with a report,,EPA the same along with the ATF and FBI so you can see plenty to absorb if your a chief with a major highway and train easement going thru your city.No kidding its not an easy job in any city or town.
Maybe a good start Norwalk4Life is to check out
http://www.firehouse.com
This site reports death and injury to our firefighters and the destruction of fires and explosians as it happens around the country within minutes. It details workshops firefighting skills at fires that are just happened, giving a full description on how fireman are killed each day,the shortfalls of leadership ,learn from others they say..
shows the latest in firefighting equipment and the examples of cities and their needs and the inovative ways of dealing with issues and keeping our force safe.
while we are here on the subject , most calls in Norwalk leave fireman standing outside waiting for a key holder to enter a building to investagate why they were called in the first place. When no is found or can respond promptly the Norwalk fire leaves.That sometimes mean alarms sounding and no real investagation beyond smelling for smoke or seeing a glow inside,,not a prefered method of checking out why you were called anywhere.
I suggested a lock box an invention that was designed many years ago and is used by most departments small or large. Takes a letter from the building inspector a strong fire chief and city to simply say we want one in a month so when our men pull up to a building they can enter then and not later once possible gas builds up and kills the crew of 5 .examples are many this was just one
To the owner he experience less destruction of his property, lessons the adverse effects on a no show while our 5 trained men wait for a key holder, I was told all new construction has this option for the firemen but I am not convinced watching the dept respond from a distance they still wait for a key holder..
I am writing this in defense of many friends I have made on the Norwalk dept they as the police feel no voice in the city,,some of these guys have given a lifetime of service they deserve more that handshakes at election time..they simply need cooperation as a start,,that usually costs money so what a life has no price tag does it?
I am fully aware what firefighters go through on a daily basis. i have family members that have been firefighters as well as a good friend that currently is one. Its still a suggestion that could work though. Money is wasted on a daily basis in this city and even to have a study to suggest such a proposal would be a benefit.
something to think about as well ,we talk more police needed, well within the last hour the state police has requested Norwalk to rt I95 one being a truck fire one never knows whats in them,,and an accident on 95 our fire logs should be published , it gives the residents a heads up when asking for another truck or more men,,
I came from a background where 1 truck a year was given to the fire dept to do thier job,,anyone have any idea when we got our last one?
Truck hours build up they don’t last forever what is the condition of our trucks figure a couple sat on the highway today ..for the state of Ct..
all the things to think about when thinking reorganization, I agree there are ways to cut cost but first understand the job and what as a city we need to do to keep the standard they already maintain,,I have to admit the fire dept does a awesome job but I can see where things are wearing thin ,equipment is one ,,I still have not seen any report that tells me the condition of each truck and its age on the fire dept.This would be a study I would support but before election time
Lockboxes should be madatory in all cities, We waste precious time waiting for an owner to arrive and therefore increasing the probability of the fire spreading and becoming a much bigger problem and possible danger zone. There should be no reason that anyone would object to this and it should be implimented right here in Norwalk and set an example for surrounding towns. Our firefighters lives are worth more than a building.
Mr. Greenpeace — PLEASE — “Brevity is the soul of wit”. Your postings are unreadable; I skip over them when I see them now. I think you make good points now and then, but try focusing on one topic per posting and keep it pithy.
sorry ENrwalker, its been said and I understand about my postings,,I actually write them to make a point, They get shorter when my workday ends,,like now its almost 3:30 I write to educate my kids =, I show them the responses and even the seven year old says he understands most of them some of the time..your not alone..
See! You can do it!
ah… more cop and fd bashing from our amateur attorneys who don”t know all the facts. Let’s see….Callahan was actually fired by Rilling and forced to take him back by a state board. Whose fault is that? Might be because the court decided that there were no crimes committed.
Next we have a fireman who claims racism yet refuses to make an official complaint and produce the tape that provides proof of racism. No real complaint, no proof displayed, but it is again the government’s fault that this claim was not investigated.
Now for officer oulette. Not found guilty of any crime, but fire him anyway
Next up we have Todd at Pagano’s. Again no complaint is filed, no victim that will cooperate, and again it is the City’s fault that they cannot make a case. Oh, but they allowed Pagano’s to voluntarily turn in their computer rather than going it and taking it. No….Wait…again the city has no reason to take the computer because their is no complaint. It is that U.S. Constitution thing again getting in the way with that unreasonable search and seizure amendment. But surely they should question Todd. They have so much information to go on since THERE IS NO COMPLAINT.
And now we have the wisdom of former captain John Cashin complaining about how there is no discipline. Is this the same Mr. Cashin who had to be reassigned once because of a sexual harassment complaint made against him? The same one who swore at his subordinates? Maybe he was talking about himself on that one. But that’s ok, he was mentally unstable at the time due to mental illness. He is much better now and after several years of locking himself in his office he has a much better perspective on how the police should be run.
To change the subject just a little – while I don’t condone what Officer Callahan did, I am darn sick and tired of hearing about the “skull fragment” . It seems the reporters just can’t seem to let that alone. If Callahan hadn’t picked it up, it would have been run over by cars or washed down the storm drain. Enough already. Let it go.
As far as the police doing their job – I think they are doing a fine job. They are stretched pretty thin most of the time and yet, in an emergency, they always seem to be there very quickly. There are always going to be those that buck authority and take advantage, but on the whole, I think our Police Dept. is pretty darn good.
Banter back and forth all you want folks and feel free to express your opinions. That is what America is all about. However, learn the facts. Whatever else is going on, whatever you feel about Chief Rilling, Captain Cashin or anyone else at the NPD, perhaps it is time to take an objective look at what really is going on. Special Commissions to examine troubled police departments are not uncommon and many times do provide an objective forum for much needed and often valuable “factual information”.
- J. Cashin (Capt. retired
Maybe they will be holding a Special Commission on Mr. Cashin in Tisbury to see what type of job he is doing.
What a singularly childish retort. Sort of like “oh yeah, well, you’re a stupid-head”. Good luck with it all folks.
I cannot imagine how behavior like Callahan’s would be condoned in the private sector. How many incidents does it take to realize that a problem exists and most likely will continue? As they say in law enforcement, “past behavior is the most likely predictor of future behavior.”
Perhaps Callahan, Soo Gunn and Sal Corda should form their own “Not Accountable to the Taxpayers” union.
Correct me if I am wrong, but was this skull fragment picked up before the Fire Dept was called to do a wash down? wash downs are when the aftermath of debris both human and oil are sprayed down. A hunk of skull 4 x 4 inches is not what you can call a tiny fragment.
This borders on ghoulish. This man has a very sick sense of humor.
If he was not a policeman, he would be under observation in a facility. I feel for the family who had to find out this horror and deal with it.
If it had been your son or daughter’s body part, would you also condone his actions?
I THINK NOT……….
Again, Callahan’s actions were not tolerated, he was fired by the City and the Police Department. He was only back as a Police Officer because the State Labor Board forced the City to take him back. You know, The State Labor Board, which is one of those “OBJECTIVE SPECIAL COMMISSIONS” that Chief Cashin feels can solve all the problems of the police department.
I don’t know much about the conditions inside the npd but it seems to me Harry Rilling is a fine chief. He has been an extraordinary leader for the department and the community for more than a decade. He has was born and raised in this town and it seems to me he has committed his life to serving and protecting his neighbors. How anyone could bash such a man for the actions of others is strange to me. I think Chief Rilling should be honored and be given an award as “NORWALK’S MAN OF THE YEAR” for all he has done for this City. It is very disheartening to hear people especially retired officers bashing this fine man who has tried so hard for so long to do some good in this sometimes troubled City. I for one support and stand behind Chief Rilling and trust he will make the right choices and decisions for the department and the citizens of Norwalk. I think he has already proven himself to a capable commander, an exemplary leader and a fair, judicious leader who deserves our support admiration. I will be sorry to see Chief Rilling retire and hope that day is far off. Kudos to the men and women of the NPD and “Hail to the Chief”.
P.S. Mr. Cashin: it seems that the Vineyard would be a perfect place for you to sow your “sour grapes”
Wow! how much do you charge for your PR services?
Where were you when the NFD was getting screwed?
OK! Come on, this is really Chief Rilling who posted #25 right?
#22 Anonymous – Not only are these peopl not accountable to the taxpayers, they aren’t accountable to their fellow union members who DO their jobs and Pay their dues to the unions, only to have the money wasted on slimy lawyers protecting the few who thumb their noses other union members and the taxpayers.
The city of Norwalk should close down the Personnel Dept. where political cronies get their unemployable relatives and friends (that couldn’t get jobs in the private sector) jobs through political connections. It would end up saving a lot of money for the taxpayers in lawsuits and unreasonable absenteeism because these people wouldn’t make it.
The city needs to get rid of thes corrupt unions.
I believe that the problem can and will be solved by Civil Suits in the future.
If there can be no justice by the state, or the union, then maybe it is time for the private sector to take charge of the aftermath of their decisions.
The discipline process in the fd and pd is an adversarial system just like a criminal justice system. The chiefs make their decision on discipline based on a hard line stance, similar to a prosecutor. The union is obligated to defend the disciplined, much like a defense attorney. If they can’t negotiate a discipline that they feel will stand up to review (ie. a labor board which issues a binding decision, much like a judge and jury), the chiefs make their decision and a grievance is filed to the labor board (judge). If it reaches that level, sometimes the union wins, sometimes the city wins.
In the Callahan situation, the chief of police and the city did their job and took a hard line stance and fired Callahan, and the union did their job defending him. Ultimately the labor board sided with the union and felt that the punishment was excessive. If you feel that this decision is wrong, blame the state labor board and not the chief and the city.
Turf: Do we know for certain that the previous poster is, indeed, John Cashin, before this thread is hijacked by questionable allegations and misrepresentation of character?
Watchdog: No we don’t know for certain. As a reminder any post that is posted under false pretenses such as using the real name of some one who is unaware of the post will be removed. That sounds like a lawyer. Don’t post under someone else’s name where the reasonable conclusion is that you are that person. A little better. Thus fictional names, eg George Washington, is okay. ANy questions, post them here or email turfgrrl at gmail.com. Use the contact form if you want to remain anonymous.
its Ok John you have our blessings the family wishes you well, the Island is good hands..shortest post I’ve done yet.
Re: Post 29
If in fact that this person is a “repeat offender” and was NOT a police officer, in many states that have the “3 strikes and your out” law, he would be serving time, as there is no UNION to support the criminal.
If this cannot be brought under control by the Union/State, then if the family that was told that this skull fragment was taken, would bring in the ACLU, to do an investigation of all steps of the state/city legal process. YOU CAN BET that the shit would hit the fan then.
What gets me really mad is that 95+ percent of the officers on the NPD are hard working, upstanding men and women, who are being disgraced by that tiny percentage of repeat offenders that are giving them a bum rap. It is up to these good officers to give a Wake UP Call to their union and tell them that some bylaws need to be carefully looked at and re written, for the 21st century.
A great portion of Norwalk’s reputation is based on it’s police department, and right now this police department seems to be the talk of the state. This will not go unnoticed by national polls ranking the quality of life in Connecticut cities.
I truly feel sorry for the good clean officers who respect the badge, and try to hold themselves to higher standards than the man in the street, do their jobs and keep their nose’s clean, and serve with quiet dignity. We depend on these fine men and women to protect our lives, our children and grand children’s lives and our property, and not fear the police because of a tiny percentage of bad apples.
Having been an member of the Norwalk Police Department for over 21 years, I find many of the comments on this site to be erroneous and innacurate regarding disciplinary issues. This site also seems to provide a venue for individuals with agendas to make statements and comments without regard to the truth because they can hide behind pseudonyms and anonymous signatures.
I have not personally agreed with every one of Chief Rilling’s disciplinary decisions. At times, I have felt that some of his decisions were too severe, and others I felt were too lenient. Many times I have felt that they were entirely appropriate. In dealing with a department of this size, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration when deciding on appropriate disciplinary measures. A large part of that decision is based on progressive discipline, severity of the offense, and circumstances surrounding the incident. Chief Rilling must consider these and other factors in determining what he feels is appropriate discipline. As the level of discipline rises, the Mayor, the Police Commission, and Corporation Counsel are consulted to determine if this discipline will stand up to scrutiny by the state labor board, which has final say in punishment when it is appealed to that level. For those such as retired Captain Cashin, who feel that the Chief’s discipline is too weak, it should be noted that several of the Chief’s disciplinary decisions have been overturned as being too severe.
While this is not a perfect system, I am not sure that there is a better way to protect the rights of both the City and the individual officer.
I am somewhat amused at Mr. Cashin’s comments in the Hour regarding his perceived lack of discipline within the Norwalk Police Department. Having worked both with John Cashin as a patrolman on midnights and for him while assigned as a Detective under his supervision, I am astonished that he would make comments regarding the Chief’s lack of discipline. Mr. Cashin was quoted in the Hour as saying an officer “swore at Cashin himself, and was repeatedly out of control” but was not significantly punished. If I am correct in my assumption regarding the incident he is speaking of, I was personally present to witness much of his interaction with the subordinate in question, and much of his action was inappropriate and abusive to the point that a complaint was filed against him, resulting in his reassignment. The repercussions from this event could have been much more severe, but I feel that the Chief may have taken into account some personal issues Mr. Cashin was dealing with that are inappropriate to discuss in this venue. I find it ironic that Mr. Cashin attacks Chief Rilling for his lack of discipline when he was a beneficiary of the Chief’s understanding during his difficult times, which lasted several years.
Does the City need ANOTHER Special Commission to look into the Police Department? I don’t think so. How much oversight is really needed. Discipline by the Chief is reviewed by the Police Commission, Corporation Counsel, the Norwalk Police Union, and the State Labor Board. In many instances, the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut is consulted if the issue at hand may involve criminal activity. Several instances have been reviewed by the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office and the Federal Courts.
In the 20+ years I have served with this Department, I have had the opportunity to serve with hundreds of fine men and women who go to work every day and do a fine job. I have also seen at least a half-dozen, probably more who were fired or forced to resign, almost all by Chief Rilling. Discipline is dealt with on every level within the Police Department, from the rank of Sergeant to the Police Commission itself. Not every decision will be popular, and when someone is disciplined, there will always be a difference in opinion as to whether it was the appropriate discipline or not. Hopefully, during the disciplinary process, those who have the complete facts and circumstances are the ones who make the decisions, not persons who are forming their opinions on mere rumors and speculation.
Re post 34
“make statements and comments without regard to the truth because they can hide behind pseudonyms and anonymous signatures.”
Ya think? Maybe we just fear that 2% of bad apples on the NPD might just pull a gun on us and steal a piece of our skull to use as an ashtray.
Very nicely written Mike but as usual completely self serving and missing the point. Perhaps you should concentrate on photographing nude college coeds, you are right on target there.
Re: question authority
Thanks, but I actually think that glamour, fashion, and wedding photography are my weakest areas. I think that is because my lack of experience in lighting techniques hurts me. I seem to be much better at sports, landscape, and portrait photography at this point. Hopefully, as I attend workshops and classes, I will continue to improve in all aspects of photography. I am hoping that someday it will be a full-time profession.
That is what I like to see, someone who has a hobby that can become a paying job when they retire. Anyone who has that will find that they will wonder how they ever had time to work. JUST DON’T make the hobby a job that you start to resent because it takes up all your time. Been there done that at least half a dozen times.
Photographimg nude college coeds??? How do I get this job?? Can I be your apprentice Mike?? Please..
Good luck Mike, it is good to recognize your weaknesses and I’m sure you will find something you are good at. No, really.
#39.
Those are not paying jobs. Photos he is referring to are part of a photography workshop where professional photographers teach newer photographers lighting techniques, and how to give posing directions for models when taking glamour, fashion, fine arts, and portrait photos. Don’t really think you can make a living doing this type of photography. I am currently taking lessons on Photoshop editing and low light sports photography. If you would like information on this I would be more than happy to help you recommend some courses. NCC also has some excellent courses that I have attended.
Wow!…I mean wow! So many people commenting who obvioulsly have absolutely no idea as to what has happened or what is happening.
Has Anyone had the obvious curiousity to ask how “poor” Mr. Caviola wrecked in the first place? NO! If they did they would soon find out that the police report states among other things that “poor” Mr. Caviola had side swiped two cars while he was high on cocaine. And while fleeing these hit and runs he wrecked. There was no pursuit. Police were notified of the accident after the fact! Mr. Caviola was also found to have packaged coccaine in his vehicle and an illeagal loaded pistol in his car while investigating his DUI wipeout. As far as the skull thing goes officer Callahan AT THE TIME informed superiors and officers on the scene that he found the fragment and was going to secure it in his duty bag. He also made a gallows humor joke about the fragment like many EMS and Millitary folks do. In poor taste sure, perhaps. But if he intended to actually use it for any nafarious porpouse it defies logic as to why he would “inform his superiors and cops on the scene.” THat’s why he was reinstated. Look beyond the headlines people and you may find the truth…Oh’ by the way Mr. Caviola was also under investigation by the New Haven FBI because he was suspected of being a bag man for the Gambino crime family.
so if Bridgeport’s population is the same as Norwalks over a weekend where we expect the population to grow 120,000 people how does having 188 police officers on the department stack up to Bridgeports 528 officers ,,apples and oranges
department sizes around the state
Hatrford 475
New haven 508
Stamford 363
waterbury 336
One would think having a department with more men and women would help all the way around,
One city is now making marshals out of their regular officers to arrest illegals,,another inovative idea wouldn’t one think?
188 …. We wish….Your way high..
It would be great if the local press would actually report on the actual police report regarding the Caciola “Skull” case. But to date no local media, although available to them, has made no attempt to aquire the actual police report. Gee I wonder if they may have a templated agenda as oppossed to actually reporting the truth? Oh and by the way pertaing to the latest rant by the hack Norwalk Hour reporter Noelle Frampton targeting Chief Rilling (Who I am no friend of)…Did you know that she actually lives in a house where her Landlord is non other than former Capt. Cashin! Check it out.
Hey Capt. John Cashin….Be careful about throwing stones in glass houses. Two failed marriges, Alcohol Re-hab on the city’s dime as well as being removed from the detective beureau do to sexuall harrasment allegations hardly qualifies you as “Super Cop”.
Bristol with about 30,000 less residents almost has the same size department give or take 4 how do they do it? lights out at 12?
Hey #46, how about investing in a dictionary. Let’s get back to the issue. This Cashin guy is not the issue, the allegations are. Just because a person has a troubled life doesn’t mean they are lying or even unreliable, perhaps just a poor choice as a life
partner and at any rate the poor loser is out of the picture. Focus people, focus.
NEWTOWN “Gun” INCIDENT:
“OFFICER CALLAHAN PULLS GUN ON INNOCENT PATRON AT BAR”
LOL That’s whatthe Hack reporters say to fit into there pathetic narrow “gotch ya” journalistic view. But yet again. All any reporter has to do is…well, actually report and not editorialize. We all know this poor guy was just minding his own business when for No reason Officer Callahan decided to point a gun to his head in the bathroom. Hmmmm sorta strange huh. If a reporter would actually do what they were hired to do (as opposed to simply being spoon fed a story by certian Norwalk police officials) and actually here’s a thought…get the police report!!!! That reporter would find that the complaintant and Officer Callahan were at Churchhill’s having a good time with no ill will or incident whatsoever. Even by the plantiff’s own statement. (Which he made two of and was noted as being un-cooperative by the Newtown Police)Bet that wasn’ in the Newspaper!? better yet leave the bar??? NO! He went back to the bar with his girlfriend and drank until closing! Than an hour later decided to report this “tramadic” incident. Nor was that FACT that this individual was so drunk that that he was unable to even pick Callahan out of a photo-lineup.
I’m just saying “Be very very wary what you read in the paper. There is no investigative reporters localy. They are all just spoon fed stories by agenda oriented parties to duped “reporters” and regurgitated back up on newsprint.
NEWTOWN “Gun” INCIDENT:
“OFFICER CALLAHAN PULLS GUN ON INNOCENT PATRON AT BAR”
LOL That’s what the Hack reporters say to fit into there pathetic narrow “gotch ya” journalistic view. But yet again. All any reporter has to do is…well, actually report and not editorialize. We all know this poor guy was just minding his own business right? When for No reason Officer Callahan decided to point a gun to his head in the bathroom? Hmmmm sorta strange huh?
If a reporter would actually do what they were hired to do (as opposed to simply being spoon fed a story by certian Norwalk police officials) and actually here’s a thought…get the police report!!!! That reporter would find that the complaintant and Officer Callahan were at Churchhill’s having a good time with no ill will or incident whatsoever, even by the plantiff’s own statement…(Which he made two of and was noted as being un-cooperative and intoxicated by the Newtown Police) I Bet that wasn’t in the Newspaper!? So was this “victim” so scared that he fled the bar immeadiatly and called the police? No! He went right back to the bar with his girlfriend and drank until closing! Than an hour later after getting home decided to report this “tramadic” incident. Nor was the FACT that this individual was so drunk that that he was unable to even pick Callahan out of a photo-lineup ever reported.
I’m just saying “Be very very wary what you read in the paper. There is no investigative reporters localy. They are all just spoon fed stories by agenda oriented parties to duped “reporters” and regurgitated back up on newsprint.