Latest news with #theday.com
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
New London fires police officer who's been arrested four times
New London — The city has fired embattled police officer Julio Gil-Martinez, a move that comes not long after his fourth arrest on domestic violence related charges and the completion of an internal investigation. Mayor Michael Passero announced the firing on Thursday. Gil-Martinez's April 2 termination letter was sent to Corrigan Correctional Center in Montville where he remains on $350,000 in bonds. In a statement, Passero said Gil-Martinez's termination was made for just cause," and came after two internal investigations related to the off-duty incidents were completed. He said the probes revealed "egregious violations of the New London Police Department's General Duty Manual." Gil-Martinez, 29, who was hired by the city in 2023, was first arrested Nov. 16, 2024, for the alleged assault of his 20-year-old girlfriend. He has been arrested three more times since that first arrest on charges that include multiple violations of a protective order that bars him from contact the woman. The initial arrest came after Gil-Martinez allegedly cut himself and tried to convince his girlfriend to tell police she had stabbed him. At his last court appearance, Gil-Martinez applied for acceptance into the Supervised Diversionary Program. The program allows defendants to undergo mental health treatment and could lead to his charges being dismissed. Records show that following the completion of an internal investigation, Chief Brian Wright and Captain Todd Bergeson held a disciplinary hearing with Gil-Martinez on March 31 at Corrigan. Passero said the the internal investigation determined that Gil-Martinez had violated numerous department rules such as "Commission of criminal offenses, interfering with the course of justice, untruthfulness during an internal investigation — demonstrating a blatant disregard for truth and ethical standards expected of law enforcement personnel, providing false information on official records (and) conduct unbecoming of an officer." "Your actions demonstrated an apparent disregard for your oath of office and the standards of conduct expected of police professionals," Passero wrote in Gil-Martinez's termination letter. It was your conduct that compromised the integrity of the police department and fostered alarm, distrust, and misgivings within the community, thereby undermining the authority of the hard-working men and women of the New London Police Department. Attorney Erica Rodriguez, who represents Gil-Martinez, could not be reached to comment. Gil-Martinez is due back in Superior Court in Norwich on June 4. Prior to his hiring in New London, Gil-Martinez worked short stints at both the East Haven and West Haven police departments.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police: New London letter carrier had crack, was delivering mail under the influence
New London — Police said a letter carrier here was caught with three used glass crack pipes, cocaine and a pair of brass knuckles while he was delivering the mail under the influence earlier this year. Police arrested Christopher Clark, 39, of 32 Walden Ave. in New London, on Jan. 2 following reports that he was not only operating his postal van recklessly but was delivering mail to the wrong addresses, acting strangely, and letting various letters 'fall to the ground and blow away in the wind,' police reports show. Police said they caught up with Clark on Elm Street, where he was delivering mail on foot, on the afternoon of Jan. 2. An officer watched Clark walk unsteadily, struggle to enter his van, make an illegal U-turn without signaling on Elm Street, and proceed to Lincoln Avenue, where he was stopped, police said. Clark exited the van and dropped mail envelopes onto the ground, and police said they noticed his pupils remained pinpoint, which can be a sign of drug use. The officer questioned Clark about his delivery of mail to wrong addresses and reports of his reckless driving. Clark denied drinking or taking any drugs but subsequently failed a field sobriety test. During a search, police said Clark was found with a silicone container in his pocket with suspected crack cocaine, along with a pack of cigarettes that contained a glass pipe containing a burnt Chore Boy, a scouring pad commonly used as a filter in crack pipes. Clark also had a pair of black brass knuckles in his back pocket, police said. Asked if he had anything else illegal, police said Clark admitted there were more pipes in the van. Inside the glove box of the van, police said they found two more used glass pipes. In a folded playing card in Clark's wallet, police said they found suspected powdered cocaine. Clark refused a urine test, records show. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of a dangerous weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Free on a promise to appear in court, he is represented by a public defender and was to be evaluated for a substance abuse treatment program, court records show. He is due back in court April 8. A spokeswoman with the U.S. Postal Service said Clark remains employed as a city carrier assistant.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Work on $1.5M addition to Old Lyme emergency center set for spring
Old Lyme — Town officials say that as the town grows, so do its needs for emergency services. So on April 1, construction is slated to begin on a $1.5 million addition to the emergency operations center, according to David Roberge, the town's emergency operations manager. According to documents Roberge shared with the town last month, about $913,000 of funding will come from outside sources, including $708,000 from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker said the town already has the money so it won't be affected by President Donald Trump's recent federal spending cuts. The rest, about $609,000, comes from the town's reserves, Shoemaker said, adding that it won't affect the town's annual budget. The town has grown since the original center, with 'two small rooms,' was built, Shoemaker said Tuesday. She said helping people during a disaster takes more people than the current center can accommodate. Just the task of reaching out to seniors during these crises takes a 'massive outreach.' Shoemaker said the larger center will provide space for emergency management training and can work as a secondary town hall if the main one has to shut down for an emergency. 'I can take all 27 Town Hall employees and move them to the emergency center, where they'll have space to work,' Shoemaker said. In his presentation, Roberge said the center has been used numerous times since it was built: during flooding in 2010, Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the October 2011 snowstorm, a heat wave in 2012, a blizzard in 2013, the COVID-19 pandemic, and 'numerous annual state emergency planning and preparedness initiative exercises.' Roberge wrote that building an addition rather than renting a new space saves the town money because equipping a rental space with backup generators, communication towers and structural upgrades would be expensive. The existing building, built in 1992, has a 175-square-foot conference room and a communications room of the same size. The 1,500-square-foot expansion adds a conference room, call room and operations room.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police: New London letter carrier had crack, was delivering mail under the influence
New London — Police said a letter carrier here was caught with three used glass crack pipes, cocaine and a pair of brass knuckles while he was delivering the mail under the influence earlier this year. Police arrested Christopher Clark, 39, of 32 Walden Ave. in New London, on Jan. 2 following reports that he was not only operating his postal van recklessly but was delivering mail to the wrong addresses, acting strangely, and letting various letters 'fall to the ground and blow away in the wind,' police reports show. Police said they caught up with Clark on Elm Street, where he was delivering mail on foot, on the afternoon of Jan. 2. An officer watched Clark walk unsteadily, struggle to enter his van, make an illegal U-turn without signaling on Elm Street, and proceed to Lincoln Avenue, where he was stopped, police said. Clark exited the van and dropped mail envelopes onto the ground, and police said they noticed his pupils remained pinpoint, which can be a sign of drug use. The officer questioned Clark about his delivery of mail to wrong addresses and reports of his reckless driving. Clark denied drinking or taking any drugs but subsequently failed a field sobriety test. During a search, police said Clark was found with a silicone container in his pocket with suspected crack cocaine, along with a pack of cigarettes that contained a glass pipe containing a burnt Chore Boy, a scouring pad commonly used as a filter in crack pipes. Clark also had a pair of black brass knuckles in his back pocket, police said. Asked if he had anything else illegal, police said Clark admitted there were more pipes in the van. Inside the glove box of the van, police said they found two more used glass pipes. In a folded playing card in Clark's wallet, police said they found suspected powdered cocaine. Clark refused a urine test, records show. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of a dangerous weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Free on a promise to appear in court, he is represented by a public defender and was to be evaluated for a substance abuse treatment program, court records show. He is due back in court April 8. A spokeswoman with the U.S. Postal Service said Clark remains employed as a city carrier assistant.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Driver charged with DWI after she slams into New London apartment
New London — A North Providence, R.I., woman has been charged with driving under the influence after police say she rammed her car into the side of an apartment building late Tuesday night, displacing three families. Police said she then ran across the street and entered an occupied home. After she was arrested, she was brought to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment. City firefighters at 10:46 p.m. were dispatched to the Faire Harbour Landings apartment complex at 10 Anthony Road for a report of a car striking a building, Fire Chief Vernon Skau said on Wednesday. Skau said three apartments were evacuated, but there were no injuries. The Red Cross assisted the families. On Wednesday morning, a white Honda Accord with apartment debris over its hood and substantial front-end damage was still wedged into the corner of the building. An uprooted parking sign and post pieces were scattered near the entrance of the complex. An engineer is expected to be out (Wednesday morning) to see what needs to be done — or not done — to safely remove the vehicle and then assess the structure, Skau said. On Wednesday afternoon, police announced they had also charged Megan Perry, 35, with first-degree burglary, failure to drive right, evading responsibility, risk of injury to a minor and driving without insurance. She was held overnight on a $50,000 bond and arraigned in New London Superior Court on Wednesday.
