VIDEO: Removal Of Complaint Review In The Police-Community Relations Committee?

A committee of the City Council is proposing that the review of police investigations into complaints against police officers should no longer be a responsibility of the Police-Community Relations Committee.

The Public Safety Committee unanimously voted to remove a section from the Police-Community Relations Committee ordinance saying that the PCR Committee should review such investigations to determine whether they are adequate or inadequate. This would leave the PCR as a committee primarily charged with working to improve the relationship between the public and New London Police Department.

Since the vote concerns modification of an ordinance, the Administration Committee must approve the change before it can go to the full Council for a vote.

PCR members have been divided over the issue of whether the complaints should be reviewed in public or in executive session. Those in favor of the former option say this review is a better way to keep the department accountable to the citizens, while those in favor of the latter say no other departments have their complaints open to such scrutiny and that private review avoids embarrassment for the officers in the event of unsubstantiated complaints.

Councilor John Maynard, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said the review of the complaints has not been useful since the PCR Committee cannot take action against the department if it finds an investigation inadequate. He said his prior proposal, to have the PCR Committee review complaints before the police chief signs off on them and brings them into the public record, would not work since the chief is part of the mayor's administration and not under the purview of the Council.

Wayne Vendetto, chairman of the PCR Committee and a supporter of reviews in executive session, said he disagreed with the suggestion.

"Obviously you haven't done any work," said Vendetto. "You haven't done your homework. Because that's not a solution."

Maynard said he has been working to find a resolution to the issue and said the PCR Committee has been unable to find a solution of its own.

"If everything is running appropriately, the way it's supposed to be, why is it in this committee?" he asked.

The PCR Committee remains divided over the question of how to review complaints, but at its March meeting it began doing so in public. The action followed an earlier deadlock in the committee and decision not to review complaints until it received input from the Council.

Todd Lynch, president of the New London Police Union, said he was opposed to public reviews since he considers that the change from executive session reviews to public reviews was made with the intention of embarrassing officers with multiple complaints against them. He also said the department is "in despair" due to potential layoffs and other issues, and that he would support any way the PCR Committee is able to help both citizens and the department.

"Anything that can bring a positive light is welcome," said Lynch.

Complaints against officers could still be reviewed before the mayor if the PCR Committee ceases its review function, said Lynch.

Three other members of the PCR Committee briefly spoke to councilors, saying they opposed the removal of complaint review from the ordinance.