Boughton Fires Officer Over Traffic Stop Abuse

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton fired Patrolman Chris Belair Friday, a day after holding a hearing on a highly questionable March 8 traffic stop. Evidence presented at the hearing included an audio recording of Belair berating the driver.

The traffic stop took place during a snowstorm, and officers pulled the driver over after seeing him run a red light. Eventually four officers were at the scene. The audio tape revealed one police officer, identified as Belair, yelling at the driver and threatening him for driving when intoxicated.

"Stop being in this country and almost ....... killing people," Belair said, "because you're too ....... stupid to call for a ride. Honestly, if there wasn't four other cops here, I'd beat the .... out of you right now."

Boughton said in his letter to Belair this tirade was wrong and contrary to the rules of being a Danbury police officer. He said it alone was reason enough for firing Belair.

“The operator was, by all accounts, including the audio tape, being cooperative and respectful. Yet you yelled, used profanity, told him to leave the country and threatened to beat him. He stated to you, in the face of this tirade, that he was sorry, without even raising his voice. You mocked him when he appeared to be crying," Boughton wrote in the letter.

In addition to the verbal abuse, Boughton said in the letter Belair left the man to walk home in the storm, another apparent rule violation. 

“…you and other officers at the scene of the traffic stop left the operator to walk to his home a mile away, in a snow storm in the middle of the night, placing him at risk of injury.”

Boughton said when the arrest was investigated by Internal Affairs, Belair didn't cooperate fully. 

“You were untruthful or at best failed to give complete information in your IA interviews and statement,” the mayor wrote when firing Belair.

The letter said Belair shut off the cruiser’s camera and he failed to activate his microphone, contrary to department policy.

 “Based on these findings, you violated the following provisions of the Rules and Regulations of the Danbury Police Department and the Code of Conduct:

 “protect the public and respect their rights, and enforce the law courteously and appropriately."

 “Courtesy and civility toward the public are demanded of all members of the Department, and any conduct to the contrary will not be tolerated.”

 “For using violent, abusive and profane language.”

 He broke general order 3230 by shutting off the camera and failing to use his microphone during a traffic stop, which led to,  “precluding complete documentation of the incident and preservation of evidence concerning the March 8 traffic stop.”

 Boughton then said he was terminating Belair’s job because he was “either unwilling or unable to carry out the duties of a police officer in accordance with the high standards expected of the Danbury Police Department.

 “I wish to emphasize that while the above list of violations is long, the single event of your outrageous statements to the operator, delivered with obvious personal animosity and intimidation, in my view constitutes just cause for your discharge from the City of Danbury Police Department.”