Larceny Charges, Ethics Complaints: All This Over an iPod?

Police Officer Loren Casertano and his wife Kim-Marie of Shelter Rock Dr. are anxious to know whether their grievances with the . are being actively looked into, and when and if they’ll get a response.

In July 2008, state police charged Loren Casertano with fifth-degree larceny.

More recently, on Jan. 14 of this year, police charged the two with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

The Casertano’s are fighting these chargers, maintaining their innocence. In a letter to the Ethics Board, Loren Casertano, who is currently on paid administrative leave, wrote: “I feel this is an attempt on the part of the Shelton Police to manipulate the legal and ethical system to destroy my career.”

The Background

It all began when Casertano’s daughter’s iPod was stolen by a former friend at in March 2008. The friend admitted to the theft and police acquired the iPod. During the process, Casertano said Officer Cathy Schneider lied on her official report, which was used on all arrest warrants in the case.

In a second letter to the Ethics Board, Casertano said “[Chief Joel Hurliman] never told the court of this lie. He is withholding exculpatory evidence and this is a gross misconduct of justice.”

Hurliman said that the complaints filed against him are baseless.

When the iPod was returned to Casertano, he claimed it was not his daughter’s – she had possessed a more expensive model. Investigators determined the Casertano family purchased an iPod for $133.60, while the student thief’s family compensated $370.98.

In an attempt to prove their claim, Casertano’s wife presented the Ethics Board with a receipt for engravement on an iPod. Police said the evidence was phony, which led to the fabricating physical evidence charge.

Where This Issue Stands Now

At this month’s Board of Ethics meeting, held Thursday, Feb. 10, Casertano approached the board during the public portion, only to be quickly stonewalled shortly before the board went into closed session.

Casertano inquired on status of his complaints: Are they being looked into? Will his family get an update or response soon? Is anything being done at all?

Board members said they could not discuss the nature of his questions, as the matter is now confidential. They did tell him that his filed complaints are indeed being considered and discussed, but would not go into any further detail.

Visibly frustrated, the Casertano’s waited outside for a good 45 minutes as the board went into closed session. They said they feel they are being treated unfairly, based on the amount of time their ethics complaints have been on the table, and yet they’ve seen no signs of action on the board’s part.

Casertano’s wife also cited an incident where officers were seen out drinking in full uniform. A complaint was filed (not by the Casertano’s) against this, and so far nothing has come out of it.

The Casertano’s are due in Derby Superior Court on Feb. 26.