12/28/09 Now We Might Hear The Rest Of The Story ..... Greenwich Post Breaking News

Covering the news of Greenwich, Connecticut Breaking News The Greenwich Police Department’s union leadership is looking to shed some light on the settlement between the town and several minority officers who charged it with discrimination. Read More - Comment - Share A $887,000 settlement in the case was revealed last week, but contains a confidentiality agreement that prevents details about the settlement and comment from those involved. Now Sgt. James Bonney, president of the Silver Shield Association, told the Post on Monday the union is looking at filing a freedom of information act calling to have those details disclosed..... .....The New Haven jury found in favor of claims made by Terral Hardy, John Rodriguez, Scott Johnson, Carlos Franco and John Woodward that they were not offered the opportunity for advancement that white officers were...... .....The suit charged “overt racism” in the GPD, including racist comments by superior officers who were never disciplined for their conduct and harassment by high ranking officers, with former Chief of Police James Walters and former Captain Michael Pacewicz, both of whom were active duty officers at the time, specifically named in it...... QUOTE: “This seems to us like the town is trying to hide something,” Sgt. Bonney said. “Why else would they want a confidentiality agreement put in place? I know from talking to the officers before that they were very adamant that this be brought out for the public to see what goes on in the town. I don’t like secrets and I want to know what happened here. These are public employees and town funds and tax payer dollars.” Hearst Newspapers Is Once Again A Day Late And A Dollar Short..... Where Is The Greenwich Time????

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06/26/08 Greenwich Time News Headlines For Thursday

Towns join forces to pay less for fuel By Stephen P. Clark, Wynne Parry and Alexandra Fenwick Staff Writers As motorists endure record gas prices, lower Fairfield County municipalities are locking in rates to save money on fueling public vehicles. While area gasoline prices have topped $4.50 per gallon, Stamford, Norwalk and Greenwich and other municipalities are paying as little as $2.57 per gallon for gas and $2.62 per gallon for diesel fuel. These municipalities are part of a joint bidding program that lowers prices, reduces administrative costs, and improves quality control.... ...That's what Greenwich did this month for diesel fuel. It will pay $4.06 starting July 1. Greenwich still uses gas purchased through SWRPA. In January, the town renewed its gasoline contract and has been paying $2.69 per gallon since February, which is locked in until the year's end. Greenwich Director of Purchasing and Administrative Services Joan Sullivan said she waited to lock in a diesel price because it typically drops later in the year. "We kept hoping that the market was going to improve for diesel, and it didn't," she said.... Officials await news on UBS STAMFORD - Local and state officials were taking a wait-and-see approach yesterday to rumors of a potential takeover of banking giant UBS AG - a cornerstone of the city's financial industry - by British rival HSBC Holdings.... Byram building plan stalls Lingering concerns helped to stall a developer's plan to bring a new office building to Byram. The project failed to gain the support of the Planning and Zoning Commission late Tuesday night after several commissioners cited concerns over the potential traffic, building design and public access to the waterfront.... Residents raise the roof over tennis facility Although tennis players may be pleased to have an off-season facility, a number of residents are not happy with the prospect of a bubble rising in their neighborhood... A perfect season in Cos Cob Andrew McCausland is good at math but he has no plans to be a mathematician. Instead, the 11-year-old Cos Cob student has his eyes set on becoming a financial investor... More police, staff at islands As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, First Selectman Peter Tesei is ordering additional police patrols and increased staffing out at Island Beach and Great Captains Island... Questions remain in boy's drowning Whether Zachary Archer Cohn's drowning after getting caught in a suction drain in his family pool will result in criminal arrests or was a terrible accident remains unanswered by Greenwich Police investigating his death... Parks supervisor reinstated A parks supervisor who was fired by the town last summer for ordering a swastika to be painted on the desk of a subordinate has been awarded his job back with back pay by an arbitrator... Teufel gets call to hall Some may be jumping off the New York Mets' bandwagon, but Tim Teufel isn't one of them. Teufel, the Greenwich native who went on to play six seasons for the Mets and was a member of the 1986 World Series championship team, still bleeds orange and blue... CL&P to launch town upgrades Connecticut Light and Power Co.said Wednesday it will begin $6.5 million in upgrades to the town's electrical system to provide more reliable service for Greenwich customers... Indian Harbor edges Garden Catering In the playoffs, where every game and each passing inning can bring a team a step closer to a championship, there's not a huge need for additional motivation.... In a private world of poignant memories Two memories - one about a father, the other about a grandfather: In the afternoon, it grew dark. The cartoonist looked out of the school windows at the dancing trees, then turned back to the easel and stared at the paper... The Mianus Bridge and state DOT With the anniversary of the Mianus River Bridge collapse 25 years ago this week, it is important to respectfully remember the individuals who were killed, and how people from all sectors responded to the tragedy and its aftermath.... Issues involving ferry access being blurred To the editor: Greenwich Time, June 15: " 'I don't think the lifting of the restriction had anything to do with the Kempner case or concerns about the town's standing legally on the beach policy - or any restriction which was in conflict with the Supreme Court case,' [Town Attorney John Wayne] Fox said. Greenwich Time, June 17: "Reverting to a policy that restricts nonresidents from riding town ferries unless they are accompanied by a resident would be impossible to justify if challenged in court, First Selectman Peter Tesei said yesterday." Any questions? I'm so glad that our then-first selectman and town attorney got together in secret last year to decide what is the best policy for Island Beach. I'm equally happy that the new first selectman chose to implement the policy. Now seriously, what does Peter Tesei mean by "reverting?" Is he saying that if we had never changed the policy (at that point only two days old), it would be OK, but reverting is a problem? Would "maintaining" the policy be a problem? (No, according to the town attorney.) Lots of questions about this policy change. Nitpicking like this would not be necessary if this policy were debated publicly, but all our officials have provided are snippets. The way this was handled is disgraceful. John Bowman Byram Complete review of arts center plan is required Residents ought to decide on island access

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01/07/08 - The Police Department Wont Stop It's Unethical And Illegal Retailitory Practices - It's Time To Contact Victims For A Class Action Lawsuit

Not Too Many Greenwich Citizens Are Aware That About 100 Days Ago A Cos Cob Man Sued The Town Of Greenwich And It's Police Department For Four Million Dollars.

A Cos Cob man recently filed a civil rights suit in Federal Court against the Town , The Former Police Chief and four police officers stemming from an assault and a wrongful arrest.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, states that policemen wrongfully arrested Frank A. Bertino after an officers unprovoked attack on Bertino at 322 Palmer Hill Road. The lawsuit seeks 4 Million Dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

The Town Of Greenwich has filed a response.

According to the lawsuit, Bertino was outside of the home when trying to ask police about the arrest when Lt. James Heavey asked him to wait to be spoken to. As Mr. Bertino moved back another officer grabbed his wrist and attacked him, Screaming that Bertino was resisting arrest.

The officer then threw Mr. Bertino into a bush and then into a wall as other officers started to join in and handcuff Bertino, severely twisting his wrist arm and shoulder in the process.

The police then charged Mr. Berino with breach of peace and interfering with a police officer.

Mr. Bertino has suffered permanent and sever injuries from the incident.

Mr. Bertino's attorney Kevin Coles stated in the lawsuit that Officers Daniel Hendrie, John King and Eric Scorca, as well as, Lt. Heavey failed and refused to properly investigate the situation before arresting Mr. Bertino.

Moreover, attorney Kevin Coles says that Greenwich Police Officers lacked probable cause to make the arrest.

Now here is where it gets interesting.

The lawsuit also states that the Town Of Greenwich and the Greenwich Police Department failed to investigate a misconduct complaint Mr. Bertino filed against the officers.

Once again the Town Of Greenwich and it's Police Department is failing to provide constitutionally protected due process rights to it's citizens that make misconduct complaints about the police department.

Doesn't this sound familiar?

With in two business days of my police misconduct complaint, the illegally appointed Greenwich Police Captain Michael Pacewicz, ruled the complaint unfounded and refused to interview witnesses and myself and my wife.

Mr. Bertino's lawsuit hits the nail on the head when his attorney Kevin Cole writes...

The Town Of Greenwich and the Greenwich Police Departments failure to investigate amounts to deliberate indifference to the safety and the rights of persons.

Of coarse Town Attorney John Wayne Fox just sat on his hands as the Greenwich Police Department refused to insure a proper investigation of Mr. Bertino's police misconduct claim.

Just as Town Attorney John Wayne Fox and Greenwich Police Commissioner Peter Tesei has sat on their hands and refused to insure a proper investigation of my police misconduct claim.

The Town Of Greenwich gets burned in lawsuit after lawsuit, because Town Attorney John Wayne Fox Fiddles Away Like Nero.

I don't want to have to file a massive lawsuit against the Town Of Greenwich and the Greenwich Police Department, but I am left with no option. Town Attorney John Wayne Fox and the weak and ineffectual Police Commissioner Peter Tesei refuse to step up to the plate and insure that a fair, open and honest police misconduct investigation is performed.

Mr. Bertino has suffered permanent physical injuries including a torn rotator cuff, nerve damage and severe emotional distress from nervousness, anxiety and humiliation just because he asked about the arrest of his son.

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR FAMILY

You could be living in Old Greenwich and a policemen could wrongfully arrested your son after an officers unprovoked attack.

Your son could be outside of the Greenwich Diner trying to ask police about the arrest of a friend when the police asked him to wait to be spoken to. As your son moves back another officer grabs his wrist and attacks him, Screaming that your son was resisting arrest.

The officer then throws your son into a bush and then into a wall as other officers started to join in and handcuff your son, severely twisting his wrist arm and shoulder in the process.

The police then charged your son with breach of peace and interfering with a police officer.

Your Son now suffers permanent and sever injuries from the incident. Looks like there will be no sports scholarship for your son.

When you go to file a police misconduct complaint on behalf of your injured son who now has a police record and court date. However, the town and police fail to investigate the complaint filed against the officer who hurt your son.

Your son now suffers from sever emotional distress from nervousness, anxiety and humiliation.

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR FAMILY

Or maybe, you live deep in the back country of Greenwich and your daughter put up a picture of a Greenwich Police officer sound asleep snoozing away in his police car. She and her friends think the picture is so funny.

As she is driving home on the back roads of Greenwich four police cars pull her over. They start to illegally search your car. The look under the seats, in the glove box and in the trunk. She is terrified and quietly calls you on the phone.

You have to call 911 three times to get a police supervisor down on that dark and lonely road to stop the violations of her rights.

The police were going to write her a ticket to cover up the illegal search, but the supervisor tells the officer to withdraw the ticket.

When you go to file a police misconduct complaint some illegally appointed police captain refuses to investigate the violation of your daughters rights. It's her own damn fault for putting that funny picture of a police officer up on myspace.

One of your daughter friends is outraged at how she and her family is treated. Your daughters friend calls up the Greenwich Time to tell them about the myspace picture and the illegal search that it caused.

The Greenwich Time reporter calls you up in your back country home, and you tell the reporter about the outrage that has occurred to your family.

The police read the report and seek to discredit and humiliate your family for criticising them.

The School Police Officer is checking out her school records, the police talk to your employer and the Tax Assessor needs to inspect and reval your home.

This could happen to you because Greenwich does not have an independent civilian complaint board. The Greenwich Police Department is not held accountable to the citizens of Greenwich.

Without checks and balances keeping the police department honest then your son or your neighbors daughter and everyone else is in danger of deliberate indifference that can affect the safety and rights of you and you neighbors.

The Greenwich Police Department is made up of people. You don't give people absolute power, because absolute power corrupts.

A Civilian Complaint Review Board will protect you and your family from a police department that routinely fails to investigate citizen complaints.