Trump Asked to Pardon 4 East Haven Cops Who Went to Prison

EAST HAVEN, CT – A petition drive has been started to ask President Donald Trump to issue a pardon to four East Haven police officers who were convicted of civil right abuses for alleged profiling of Latino residents five years ago.

The petition which is on the website, change.org says: “The 4 police officers are still seeking justice.

“Pardon and commutation paperwork has been submitted to the Trump administration. We are looking for help and support to get these decorated police officers pardoned from their politically motived prosecution and to give them a fresh start on life.

“Their families deserve it, their community deserves it and most of all they deserve it for the years of decorated service they provided to the Town of East Haven, Connecticut. Please sign this petition and help us ask President Donald Trump to pardon these officers.”

The petition states it has a target of 500 signatures; so far more than 300 have signed.

Patch was sent the petition by one of the four officers who was charged in the profiling.

David Cari and Dennis Spaulding were each convicted of civil rights abuses and obstruction of justice charges in October 2013, while two others, former Sgt. John Miller and former Officer Jason Zullo, pleaded guilty to lesser, unrelated charges. Zullo was sentenced to two years in prison, Cari to 30 months and Spaulding to five years.

They were arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 24, 2012, on an indictment charging that the four "conspired to injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate various members of the East Haven community in violation of their Constitutional rights."

The arrests were sparked by a DOJ investigation of the East Haven police, which began in 2009.

Prosecutors filed the obstruction of justice charge largely in light of the Feb. 19, 2009, arrest of St. Rose of Lima Rev. James Manship. The New Haven priest was arrested after he filmed Cari and Spaulding ordering employees at an East Haven Latino-owned general store to remove nearly 80 license plates that had been screwed in to the back wall.

Following the arrests and prison sentences, the town’s police department fell under Department of Justice jurisdiction and was under that watch for more than four years. That watch was lifted late last year.

The DOJ agreement with the town, after the arrests, called for more extensive training for officers, including 32 hours of annual training for all officers.

It also ordered "bias-free policing," stating that the "EHPD shall deliver police services that are equitable, respectful, and free of unlawful bias, in a manner that promotes broad community engagement and confidence in the Department.

And more interaction between the police and the community has helped heal wounds. The agreement requires monthly meetings with community groups so the police are hearing directly from the community.

The department also initiated the purchase of body cameras for officers.

The petition has a lengthy list of the awards and arrests made by the four officers on it.

The language asking people to sign the petition includes this statement:

“Not all police are good civil servants, but 4 East Haven, Connecticut Police officer's, Officer David Cari, Officer Dennis Spaulding, Officer Jason Zullo and Sergeant John Miller served proudly and honorably as East Haven Police officers with a combined, over 40 years of police service. The four officers were among the town's most decorated and proactive police officer’s, received numerous awards, medals of Valor, Unit Citations, Commendation medals and a Purple Heart in that time. The group included members of the Swat Team, K9 Division and Search, Rescue and Recovery Dive Team. Officer David Cari, was shot in the line of duty and Sgt. Miller has twice had to use deadly force to protect innocent citizens and save the lives of police officers.”

>>>See the full petition here.