Photo: Brenda Mazariegos was punched in the forehead by an police officer Gregory ZachGreenwich resident Gregory Zach had been denied a job at the Greenwich Police Department in 2005 because of a background check.
Later Mr. Zach was hired by the Stamford Police Department and received numerous civilian complaints about his conduct.
Now that the Stamford Police Department has completed a 10-months investigation, the Stamford Police Department has suspended an officer after an internal probe substantiated claims that he used excessive force while arresting, Brenda Mazariegos, a downtown restaurant owner.
Stamford Police Officer Zack punched the woman while she was being arrested on charges of driving without a license.
Police Officer Zach will be suspended without pay until July 1, but he must work either in the jail or on the front desk during the midnight shift. When he returns to the force, he must spend 18 months on probation.
Additionally, Zach must adhere to a seven-point plan created by Nivakoff and other police department officials before he can return to active patrol duty. Nivakoff said he could not describe the nature of the seven provisions because such a disclosure would violate health insurance privacy laws.
Some have said the plan requires Officer Zach to deal with mental health and behavioral issues.
Zach's use of excessive force last summer brought the police department's civilian complaint process under scrutiny.
Stamford Police Chief Robert Nivakoff has said the department is working toward revamping both its civilian complaint processes and its interview policies for prospective police officers.
A notice of claim for a civil action against Police Officer Zach and the city of Stamford Has Been filed.
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