Latest news with #policedepartment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CT Appellate Court upholds decision to reinstate sergeant fired in 2021 over alleged excessive force
A Torrington police sergeant fired in 2021 after an independent investigation found that he violated department policy when he allegedly used excessive force toward a handcuffed suspect is expected to return to the department soon after the Connecticut Supreme Court rejected an arbitration appeal. Gerald Peters was terminated from the Torrington Police Department after video showed that he pepper sprayed a suspect handcuffed in a wheelchair and took him to the ground at the police station on May 23, 2020, according to previous reports. The suspect, Christopher Spetland, was allegedly intoxicated and uncooperative with police so he was placed in a wheelchair so officers would not have to drag him, police said at the time. Spetland had been arrested and charged with third-degree assault and violating the governor's mandate on coronavirus precautions, according to the police report. He had allegedly assaulted a customer at a Valero gas station after the individual told him to keep his distance because Spetland was not wearing a mask, police said. Police claimed that he struggled with officers during the arrest and landed a kick on one officer. Once Spetland was brought to the department, Peters, the sergeant on duty, used pepper spray on him as his hands were handcuffed behind his back in a wheelchair, according to police. He then brought Spetland to the ground and allegedly told him 'We've had enough,' according to reports. 'Are ya done yet? Are ya done yet?' Peters then shouted. 'Are ya done with the kicking and the fighting with the officers? Are ya done yet? Are ya finished? You're gonna go in the cell, you're gonna relax and then you'll be treated like a gentleman, after you knock it off.' According to police, Spetland did not suffer any significant injuries, but the shift commander at the time found that Peters violated department policy and an internal investigation was launched. An independent investigation, conducted by the Southington-based Daigle Law Group, concluded that Peters violated the department policy on use of force. Torrington Police Chief William R. Baldwin, Jr. announced in May 2021 that Peters had been terminated from the department. Peters started his career in law enforcement in 1992, when he served as an officer in East Granby before coming to Torrington. According to his attorney, Hartford-based lawyer Timothy Brignole, Peters brought the matter before the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration. He was successful in overturning his termination and was reinstated with full back pay, benefits and reimbursed health benefit costs. Torrington city officials appealed the arbitration decision to the Superior Court in Torrington, where a judge set aside the arbitrator's decision and ordered that a new arbitration take place, Brignole said. The judge's action was appealed by Peters and brought before the state Appellate Court, which overturned the Superior Court decision and issued an opinion suggesting Peters' use of force was 'objectively reasonable.' Earlier this month, Torrington officials appealed the Appellate Court decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court, which was denied, according to Brignole. 'The matter is now set down for a hearing back in the Torrington Superior Court to confirm the arbitration decision and award damages due Sgt. Peters,' Brignole said in a statement. 'It is anticipated that Sgt. Peters will be returning to the Torrington Police Department as a full member of the police department in the very near future,' Brignole added. A lawsuit brought by Peters against the city remains pending in federal court. The civil lawsuit, which is seeking $100 million, makes allegations of wrongful termination, defamation and a violation of his civil rights. Baldwin did not immediately respond to an email on Friday seeking comment.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CT Appellate Court upholds decision to reinstate sergeant fired in 2021 over alleged excessive force
A Torrington police sergeant fired in 2021 after an independent investigation found that he violated department policy when he allegedly used excessive force toward a handcuffed suspect is expected to return to the department soon after the Connecticut Supreme Court rejected an arbitration appeal. Gerald Peters was terminated from the Torrington Police Department after video showed that he pepper sprayed a suspect handcuffed in a wheelchair and took him to the ground at the police station on May 23, 2020, according to previous reports. The suspect, Christopher Spetland, was allegedly intoxicated and uncooperative with police so he was placed in a wheelchair so officers would not have to drag him, police said at the time. Spetland had been arrested and charged with third-degree assault and violating the governor's mandate on coronavirus precautions, according to the police report. He had allegedly assaulted a customer at a Valero gas station after the individual told him to keep his distance because Spetland was not wearing a mask, police said. Police claimed that he struggled with officers during the arrest and landed a kick on one officer. Once Spetland was brought to the department, Peters, the sergeant on duty, used pepper spray on him as his hands were handcuffed behind his back in a wheelchair, according to police. He then brought Spetland to the ground and allegedly told him 'We've had enough,' according to reports. 'Are ya done yet? Are ya done yet?' Peters then shouted. 'Are ya done with the kicking and the fighting with the officers? Are ya done yet? Are ya finished? You're gonna go in the cell, you're gonna relax and then you'll be treated like a gentleman, after you knock it off.' According to police, Spetland did not suffer any significant injuries, but the shift commander at the time found that Peters violated department policy and an internal investigation was launched. An independent investigation, conducted by the Southington-based Daigle Law Group, concluded that Peters violated the department policy on use of force. Torrington Police Chief William R. Baldwin, Jr. announced in May 2021 that Peters had been terminated from the department. Peters started his career in law enforcement in 1992, when he served as an officer in East Granby before coming to Torrington. According to his attorney, Hartford-based lawyer Timothy Brignole, Peters brought the matter before the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration. He was successful in overturning his termination and was reinstated with full back pay, benefits and reimbursed health benefit costs. Torrington city officials appealed the arbitration decision to the Superior Court in Torrington, where a judge set aside the arbitrator's decision and ordered that a new arbitration take place, Brignole said. The judge's action was appealed by Peters and brought before the state Appellate Court, which overturned the Superior Court decision and issued an opinion suggesting Peters' use of force was 'objectively reasonable.' Earlier this month, Torrington officials appealed the Appellate Court decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court, which was denied, according to Brignole. 'The matter is now set down for a hearing back in the Torrington Superior Court to confirm the arbitration decision and award damages due Sgt. Peters,' Brignole said in a statement. 'It is anticipated that Sgt. Peters will be returning to the Torrington Police Department as a full member of the police department in the very near future,' Brignole added. A lawsuit brought by Peters against the city remains pending in federal court. The civil lawsuit, which is seeking $100 million, makes allegations of wrongful termination, defamation and a violation of his civil rights. Baldwin did not immediately respond to an email on Friday seeking comment.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Jennifer McCarron named interim chief of Charlottetown Police Services
Charlottetown's police force will soon be under new leadership. Deputy Chief Jennifer McCarron has been appointed interim chief of police, making her the first woman to lead the department in its history, the city said in a news release Friday. Her appointment was made by current Chief Brad MacConnell, who will step down from the role to become Charlottetown's Chief Administrative Officer on June 16, the same day McCarron officially takes over. McCarron has been with the department for more than 30 years and has served as the city's deputy police chief since April 2021. In her current role, she oversees major crime, street crime, bylaw, property and identification units, the release said. "It's an honour to step into this role during this time of change," McCarron was quoted as saying in the release. "I'm committed to providing steady leadership, supporting our dedicated officers and staff, and continuing to serve the community." The city said it will launch a competition for a permanent police chief in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Parents of child found in Inkster located, boy reunited
INKSTER, MICH (Fox 2) - UPDATE 6:30 p.m. The boy's parents were located and picked him up from the police station. ----- The Inkster Police Department found a young boy walking around in the area of Avondale and Central in the city. Police are seeking the boy's parents. Anyone with information on his name, or who his parents are is asked to call the police at 313-563-9850.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Lone Tree breaks ground on new justice center as population in the Colorado city projected to double
The City of Lone Tree broke ground on a new justice center on Thursday. It's located east of Interstate 25 off of RidgeGate Parkway. The area is seeing a lot of new development and will also be home to the future High Note Regional Park. Alex Britti In the next decade the City of Lone Tree expects their population to double. It's why they're building a new police department and municipal court to accommodate that growth. "This building's a long time coming, and certainly, I think, well earned by the police department," said Lone Tree Police Chief Kirk Wilson. Wilson says right now the police department is housed in the city municipal building. "We're outgrowing our building, so we're really busting at the seams as far as kind of run out of offices. We run out of cubicle space, parking lot's too small," said Wilson. But now its future home is breaking ground, a 38,000-square-foot justice center in the fast-growing RidgeGate East area. "1995 we formed a city. In 2005 we formed a police department. And in 2025 we're going to build a justice center they both deserve," said Lone Tree City Manager Seth Hoffman, speaking at the groundbreaking event. "As you add new businesses and new apartments and new housing, then you want to be able to have an officer who can patrol those areas. So we really need to expand so we can have an officer in every area of the city all the time," said Wilson. The justice center will feature a more efficient layout for the police department. "It's going to have more state-of-the-art type equipment. It's going to be better equipped for the police department, more room, more space. Seems like we're always fighting for a conference room to have a meeting. Better holding cell area so it's more secure and safe for the officers as well as the prisoners," said Wilson. "Police departments just have a lot of demands on them. So you know, officers have to be social workers and mental health workers and, you know, not to mention, you know, responding to criminal calls." The building will also house Lone Tree's municipal court. "The courthouse is, currently in the in the city council chambers, and that's really not set up for that right? Not proper security, not proper waiting areas, not places, good places for attorneys to meet with their clients," said Wilson. As the community grows, so will the size of the police force. Wilson says they've already increased from about 50 to 60 officers in the last decade. "It's really kind of based on the growth. So we'll keep adding positions. And again, part of that's to expand our ability to patrol in this area, as well as keep our patrols going in the rest of the city," said Wilson. Laying the foundation for Lone Tree's future, the justice center expects to be complete in October of 2026. "It's just an exciting thing for the police department. I think for the officers, it's, you know, generating a sense of pride for them and their city and their police department. I think it's something the city deserves. The citizens deserve to have the best police department, the best police force that we can have, and we certainly want to always provide the same level of service we do today, which, in my opinion, is a platinum level of service for the citizens of Lone Tree," said Wilson. Next month Lone Tree will also break ground on a new public works operations facility which will be housed near the justice center. Together the two projects will cost the city $50 million.
