Chief airs concerns about review board

Feb. 5—WILLIMANTIC — Despite concerns from Willimantic Police Chief Paul Hussey, the Willimantic Civilian Review Board Study Committee is recommending establishment of a civilian review board to investigate complaints against the department.

Committee co- chairpersons Catina Caban-Owen and Rodney Alexander Jr. presented their recommendation to the Willimantic Taxing District Board of Directors last week.

In a letter to the Windham Town Council, which Hussey sent last Oct. 26, Hussey requested the council dissolve the study committee, expressing several concerns about how committee members conducted business.

He claimed one committee member went on a social media account and said Willimantic police officers shoot African Americans for no reason.

Hussey said he brought that incident to the attention of Caban- Owen and Alexander and they did not remove the person from the committee.

Hussey claimed, however, that other members were removed "without just cause."

"This shows a lack of leadership and transparency which, ironically, is what the committee is demanding from my officers," he wrote. "There are members who were not properly selected and have a bias against the police."

Caban- Owen declined to comment on that specific situation.

Due to his many concerns, Hussey backed out of the process a few months ago.

"My time would be better spent serving this community by tending to real police matters such as crime, retention of officers, recruitment, officer morale and community engagement," he wrote.

Hussey also claimed there had been poor attendance at the meetings and members were showing up to meetings late.

He also said members have acted unprofessionally, including eating meals during meetings, ignoring guests, including the labor attorney, and making inappropriate faces and gestures, among other claims.

No justification

On Friday, Hussey claimed the committee did not stick to its charge and looked into civilian review boards that existed, but did not evaluate whether a civilian review board was needed in Willimantic.

He said he did not feel there was justification to set up a civilian review board, noting there have been an average of no more than five civilian complaints a year for the last four years, none of which "resulted in any sort of criminal violation or liability."

"We're not perfect," Hussey said. "I'm not saying we are, but we're also not a large city with hundreds of cops. We have plenty of oversight."

He referred to Connecticut Police Officers Standards Training Council and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies standards, as well as state law, federal law and department policies and regulations.

During the meeting, Hussey said he is facing significant recruitment and retention issues and anticipated police officers would go work for departments that don't have a civilian review board.

"It appears that no one sincerely appreciates our efforts going forward," he wrote in his letter.

Caban-Owen, however, said that is not the case. "We respect the police," she said.

Collaboration

Caban-Owen said she is currently working collaboratively with police on other endeavors, including work

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