2 Cops Attend Party At Restaurant While On Duty: Milford Chief

MILFORD, CT — Two Milford police officers are facing internal consequences after they attended a retirement party for their fellow officers while on duty, Milford Police Chief Keith Mello said.

Officers Kyle Magnan and Steve Noss were patrolling on Dec. 18, 2021, when they stopped by a party at Stonebridge Restaurant in Milford.

Noss stayed for around 45 minutes, while Magnan was there for an hour and 20 minutes, according to minutes from the January Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

The restaurant was within Noss' assigned patrol area, but outside of Magnan's, Mello said.

Mello said two people outside of law enforcement told him they saw the on-duty, in-uniform officers at the bar, and he said video from the restaurant shows the officers socializing (though not drinking alcohol).

At the commission meeting, Mello called the video "disturbing and embarrassing as well as dereliction of duty," according to the minutes.

When the Police Department was made aware of the officers' presence at the event, they started an internal inquiry. As punishment, the department proposed a written reprimand for Noss and a two-day suspension for Magnan.

Both punishments were brought for review to the Board of Police Commissioners — a group of seven individuals outside of law enforcement who provide civilian review and oversight of the police department.

That board accepted Noss' written reprimand, but tabled Magnan's punishment for discussion at their next meeting in a month. So, while Noss has received the reprimand, Magnan's two-day suspension is pending commission approval.

"I'm waiting for recommendations from the police commission. They could recommend something less, they could recommend something more," Mello said. "And it's our policy that we take their recommendations very serious, because they are the civilian oversight for discipline. They are civilian oversight of the police department."

This isn't the first time Magnan's judgment has been under review — in July, the officer received discipline for a "bad decision" he made.

Though Mello declined to specify the details of that situation, he said the officer's history was taken into consideration when deciding on a punishment.

"Kyle Magnan has made some poor decisions in the past, and has been disciplined recently," Mello said. "That needs to be taken into account, when we see a pattern of an officer making poor decisions and committing inappropriate acts."

Officials from the Law Office of Daniel E. Esposito said the Milford Police Union was notified of the departmental investigation.

"Though the Union disagrees with some of the facts as alleged, the involved members have opted to accept responsibility as well as any associated discipline," a statement from the office reads. "The Union appreciates the candor and swiftness with which the investigation was conducted and looks forward to its continued collaboration with the Department's administration."

Mello said he wants the incident to serve as a learning experience for the force, and said he hopes it reminds his officers that they're expected to adhere to certain conduct standards.

"Police officers, like anyone else, are gonna make mistakes, and make poor decisions. We understand that," Mello said. "We expect them — when, and if they do that — to take responsibility and accept accountability. Because that's how you learn, and that's how we prevent any recurrences."