Norwalk Police Deputy Chief Arway Resigns

Police Chief Rilling is shocked. The Advocate’s John Nickerson reports:

Deputy Police Chief Rosemary Arway’s retirement request was accepted Monday by the Police Commission.

Arway, a 28-year department veteran who was appointed its first female deputy chief a year ago, will retire on Jan. 7, according to her request to the commission.

Police Chief Harry Rilling said Arway’s decision came as a “shock” to him when he was told of her request before yesterday’s monthly commission meeting.

“It is a choice she has made of her own free will. She will be missed,” Rilling said after the commission vote.

Mayor Richard Moccia said he received indications Arway was considering retirement for the past few weeks.

“I want to give my personal thanks to Deputy Chief Arway for her service,” he said.

Arway, 49, who is on vacation until Monday, said she is leaving the department to take a full-time teaching job in Florida, where she also owns a home.

“There are bigger things in my future. It has been a great career. I have loved almost every minute of it,” she said by telephone Monday afternoon. “This is a great opportunity for me and my family, and I will miss a lot of people in the department.”

Arway said she has been offered a number of career opportunities, including two out-of-state police chief positions.

So, that means as of Jan. 7th, there is 166 police officers. Just counting.

source: Advocate, Norwalk deputy police chief to step down, By John Nickerson, 11/18/2008

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  • Old Timer

    Is 166 accurate ? Who else retired, quit, or got fired ? Couture was fired in late September. There were others counting the days until retirement.
    The Hour says her husband is head of security for DHL. DHL just announced they were closing down US operations. Could be a good time for the move to Florida. Why would Harry stress the “own free will” part of her decision to retire ? Why would Harry be “shocked” when a 28 year veteran decides to retire after rising higher than any women ever has in the department’s history ? Why would she have a lawyer present the retirement request ? When is Harry going to retire ?

  • http://www.MGeake.org MGeake

    What I find particularly disturbing — especially given the current state of the economy — is that she attended FBI training at Quantico on Norwalk’s dime and then immediately turns around and leverages that training to leave the department.

  • turfgrrl

    MGeake: Or you could look at it as being unable to advance beyond current title syndrome. And why do we have that situation?

  • Anonymous

    This is disturbing news. Rosemary Arway is an excellent cop and should have advance long ago to where she is today. She has put in many great years in Norwalk and I for one feel it is a huge loss for Norwalk. She definately will be m issed by many.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe she is going to retire and come back like Harry at twice the pay.

  • amonymous

    What a shame. The one true leader who could have led the Police Department out of the mess they are in. She is probably the only leader in the police department that we trust in the minority community and could have brought everyone together. It is a shame that the Chief and one of the Police Commissioners couldn’t put their personal feelings about her aside for the benefit of the community.

  • Anonymous

    #6- Boy, you hit the nail right on the head with that one.

  • http://www.MGeake.org MGeake

    TG: Did her affliction with “being unable to advance beyond current title syndrome” start after she went to class??? More likely, she went knowing full well that Norwalk would accrue absolutely no benefit from the training it paid for.

  • Old Timer

    Sounds more like it was triggered by recent events, maybe in the job, maybe not. If she already owns a home in Florida, it was probably long-planned, and well earned.
    McGeake: What do you think the City paid for that training ? Isn’t that paid by the FBI, by invitation only.

  • turfgrrl

    MGeake: I really can’t knock any city employee of any department that seeks additional training. The fact is that in the corporate world, all those certifications and degrees that often the employer subsidizes only pan out as a ROI for the employer if the employee sticks around. Now, a good employer realizes that …

    But before we continue this abstract discussion, are you implying that the NPD paid for the FBI training, other than just employee salary while in training?

  • anon

    I couldn’t agree more with MGeake. I feel she took advantage of the city of Norwalk.

    #6, please. Give me a break. There are many hard working police officers that are dedicated to their jobs.

    But, maybe we should ask her good friends to vouch for her character and dedication… sure, go ahead. They are Tommy Cummings and Steve Coture just to name two. Oh wait, they’re kind of hard to get a hold of these days…

  • Anonymous

    I am not a police officer, but over the years, I have had many opportunities to speak to Ms Arway in her capacity as such, and I have found her to be a highly professional representative of the Norwalk Police Department. Moreover, she is quite intelligent and personable.

    I echo Old Timer’s questions. As a boss, if I said that someone had left of “her own free will,” the real message would be that things weren’t so good for the person, and she felt compelled to leave. What an odd comment for Chief Rilling to make!

    What is also odd is that communication between the chief and his deputy would be so lacking that he was, as he said, “shocked” at her retirement.

    As for the attorney, I don’t blame her. This is a police commission that I wouldn’t trust to do the right thing.

  • amonymous

    11-there are many good officers, but very few leaders.

  • Anonymous

    #11- you sound like one of those who had a problem with Ms Arway and just want to taint her good reputation. You might look into others on the department/retired,commissioners/others who were also good friends of the above mentioned. You might be quite surprised and possibly refrain from your Arway bashing. As for her training, it was not paid for by the city but by special invitation. So stick that in your hat and try to get the facts first before you try to ruin someones reputation. If I was in her position I’d have my atty with me as well.

  • Diane C:breach of contract?

    Here is one condition of nomination to the FBI National Academy:

    The nominee:
    Agrees to remain in law enforcement a minimum of three years after graduation from the FBI National Academy

  • Diane C: unless, of course…

    …unless of course she is staying in law enforcement, just not in Norwalk…….

  • Anonymous

    Maybe teaching law enforcement counts.

  • Anonymous

    #14, what position is she in that she needs her attorney with her? I don’t know Ms. Arway at all but I found it strange that her attorney submitted her notice of retirement. Just as strange as Rilling’s comment about free will.

  • amonymous

    Is that a contractually binding condition or a request?

  • anon

    A position where she was by far the most qualified for the position of Deputy Chief but a Commissioner with a vendetta against her attempted to prevent it and eventually settled for a situation where she and a politically more acceptable candidate would both be made Deputy Chiefs and then put her with less important duties.

  • Anonymous

    What is it about Norwalk that the city has a crazy police commission AND a crazy board of education? One would be bad enough, but two crazy governing boards is over the top. Don’t the citizens deserve better?

  • Anonymous

    #18 seems to be a real circus of sorts,then of course our ringleader the mayor always has something smart to say with his hands.Rillings has his own way of running the show we all have seen this.They both talked about her sick father,not that she was sick of them.Very inappropiate behavior for a press release.But The Hour will write anything that sounds good for them.

    Last time someone left with years of service that was bashed Larabee Stamfords police chief was involved,he sits on the police board of the police dept on the Vineyard when our last long standing officer left the department to become a chief there.His service was also shown a back door thanks.

    Lets thank The advocate finding Rosemary and getting a statement,it did look like with a lawyer and a shocked board and city leaders there was something wrong.She was running and not walking out the door.

    Lets not think Rillings knew there was anything up,he only takes his orders from Moccia the one who runs the departments policy.

    So with all the hoopla we did get what two new police officers and lost one worth the two? Seems to be the count of the day.

    Wonder after she completed courses and learned new methods of law enforcement she came back to Norwalk and was told,no money,no way,nothing was going to be implemented to fight crime in Norwalk that was cutting edge.

    Doesn’t anyone else see our way of policing the city starts at the top,only problem is no one in charge knows much or can change the old gaurd.The officer on the street knows more it seems to what works like the new guy from the state police who transfered here maybe he would make a good deputy.This will be good to see even more dissent among the troops like there wasn’t enough up till now.

    Now was she one of the forty officers retiring next couple of months?

    If your a Norwalk crimminal things just got better.

    “as the band plays on”

  • curious

    interesting that she left weeks after being questioned about her role in the attempted cummings coverup….why give up a $98,000 job plus a lucatrive NCC teaching job before her 2 year contract was up. It is good for the PD. Her whole inner circle got demolished by Cummings

  • Anony

    Ironic isn’t it? She was appointed by the Chief to be the Police Department liason with Lt. Cummings during the investigation and then rumors start when she is talked to by FBI. Sound much like a setup? Of course the Administration won’t say that they were the ones who assigned her that job or the the FBI found no wrongdoing on her part.

  • anonymous

    Why didn’t the FBI ever charge Cummings for federal violations? Maybe there isn’t as strong a case as some would have you believe.

  • Diane C: unless, of course…

    Anonymous #19 – here is the link for the FBI National Academy nominee requirements. As to whether they sign a contract is unclear, but I will continue to research:

    http://www.fbi.gov/hq/td/academy/na/na3.htm

  • Diane C: unless, of course…

    When a vacancy exists in a session for which the officer’s application can be considered, the nominating official authorizes the FBI to make a complete and thorough investigation of the nominee to confirm his/her suitability as a candidate. The nominating official has been assured by the nominee that he/she will remain in law enforcement for a minimum of 3 years following graduation from the National Academy.

  • amonymous

    I saw that on the site also but didn’t know if it was a binding contract with stipulations or penalties, or if it was kind of like the til death do us part wording in a wedding ceremony.

  • anon

    I will miss her :(

    Best Wishes Rose!!

  • anon1234

    I think there’s too much speculation here! what does she What will she be teaching at her new post? Obviously she was chosen for the training for a reason. She is a very intellegent person so I am sure she understands very well what the requirements are.

  • Rock On Rose!

    You stood up to the bullies…well done!

    You will be missed, brave lady.

  • anon

    Congrats Rose. You are the best.

  • amonymous

    Seems like the pd cut off it’s nose to spite it’s face. Now it has lost it’s best hope for the future.

  • Old Timer

    At the time of being nominated,(when was that?) the nominee must have indicated an intent to remain in law enforcement for three years. I’m sure that, at that time, she expected to be heir apparent to the Chief’s job. Something since that time has convinced her that is not a sure thing, and possibly changed her mind about staying in law enforcement. We don’t know if she has another law enforcement job lined up. Some federal jobs are very hush hush. She apparently turned down two offers to become Chief in other places. Retiring this soon after graduation from the FBI academy is not a precedent, it has happened before. Norwalk typically only nominates to the academy late in a career, when someone is being groomed for major advancement.

  • Anonymous

    For those who have never met Deputy Chief Arway, let me tell you that she is a very classy and intelligent police officer. Norwalk just has a way of treating some of its best employees shabbily, and of rewarding its marginal (and worse) ones. The BOE has done it many times.

  • stuart

    Sounds like you guys are on to something. Keep digging! Is the agreement public?? The devil is always in the details.

  • Diane C: breach

    Stuart: I think the article mentioned Ms. Arway taking a teaching position, but I’m not sure if that qualifies as staying in the law enforcement arena unless it is something like professor of criminology?
    Plus, let’s say she is leaving law enforcement – would she have to pay the FBI the cost of her training? To Anon #28 point, there may be no penalty for saying you commit to 3 years and then backing out.
    PS: I don’t know Officer Arway, nor do I know her personal circumstances. I am only trying to understand whether a contract (implied or otherwise) has been breached, and if so, whether Ms. Arway should reimburse the FBI and/or city of Norwalk for the expenses incurred in her training.

  • stuart

    I’m not worried about the FBI thing; is it going to cost us taxpayers for her to retire. What about the retirement agreement that was mentioned in today’s Hour? How much will this cost?

  • Hey

    Good for you Rose….

    Who is Torrano going to hassle now?

  • Anonymous

    Diane C.: I can’t say I know Arway very well, but I do know her. If she had an attorney present at the commission meeting, you can be very sure that the two of them already know if there is any reimbursement due anyone. As for Stuart’s question in posting 38, the retirement is something she earned, something the city would have paid for eventually anyway.

  • Anonymous

    Diane C: The city did not pay for the training. Nothing/zilch nada! Mrs. Arway was chosen by the F.B.I. to attend the academy. As far as her costing the city to retire, hellooo, she has 29 yrs on the department and has already accrued her retirement package. So what is it going to cost the city that it wouldn’t cost in say 2 yrs from now? What is all the hooplah about anyway? What we should be focusing on is the fact that despite some, Mrs. Arway has been a dedicated, professional and caring officer to this town for 29 yrs and we are losing a person who would be chief because of some inner workings that have caused her to make this decision. the best of luck to you Rosemary Arway! ;)

  • Serpico

    Seems like the whole regime is gone. And now there are a few remnants trying to switch sides and jump ship. When and where did these people get any credibility? It looks like the people in charge at the top ( and future top) are buying into it……..again and again and again. Sad to say but it is the same old story. Someone should take a survey ( not run by the P.D. of course)of the entire Police Department to see how it is really being run and how the workers feel they are being treated. Doubt we will see that. Too much truth.

  • Anonymous

    She stuck around for another stabbing at Roodner Court,looks good on a resume I’m sure.

  • amonymous

    I don’t think that any of the recently departed were part of the regime. I think they were all the outsiders that went against the regime.

  • Serpico

    #30 good for you Rose? That about sums up a 30 year career. #44 you have no idea what you are talking about. Ask the workers, the men and women who are really making the sacrifices and holding that P.D. together what is really going on. Not these people who were shielded and came up through the ranks “inside” the department. Not to hard to figure out what happened. There are bosses but no leaders.

  • anonymous

    I don’t think Serpico knows many of the current cops. From what I hear the frontline troops felt she was the best of the top three in looking out for the troops. I hear that she was the only one rto stand up against the good ol boy network and tried to do what was best for the officers on patrol. Let’s see if they replace her with another paper-pushing yes man.

  • Serpico

    #46 when did this happen? You heard wrong. By the way I know them “all”. Same old Cashin story after it blows up. Why are we hearing about this now. Stand up????Where was the outcry for the Officers on Patrol for the last 25 years? Other than taking care of friends I think it was pretty silent.

  • Anonymous

    blind leading the blind

  • anonymous

    Don’t think I heard wrong. A few of the guys were telling me he runs a road racing business having something to do with publishing race results and times.

  • No longer at NPD

    See ya