New Haven Independent

Posted by: Sgt. John Velleca | October 27, 2006 3:39 AM

You put Officer Dan Picagli in the same article as an "undocumented worker?" That is a slap in the face. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You're probably asking if I think Danny's life was more important than the illegal alien you've coupled him with. Here is my answer - Yes, I do. I had the courage to sign this, now you have the courage to post it.

Posted by: SAY WHAT? | October 27, 2006 10:44 AM

A life is a life. It is unbelievable that you are a representative of any police department and allowed to carry a gun. How does this affect how you enforce the law where you place your own subjective values on people's lives?

If you think posting this simplistic opinion is courageous, you are sadly mistaken and I hope they stick you behind a desk for the rest of your career. You sir are insensitive.

Posted by: concerned in ct | October 27, 2006 11:52 AM

I agree with Say What?. It is a sad state of affairs that a person paid by the citizens to "Protect and Serve" would make such insentitive comments about a hard working "person" who was robbed and killed. So what if the person was undocumented, does that make them him less of a human being. Who are you, Sgt Velleca, to put a price on the worth of someone's life. Even though this person was undocumented, he loved, and was loved by other people.

I hope the Chief immediately takes you off the streets.

Posted by: Joe | October 27, 2006 12:05 PM

Velleca: Your hostility and bigotry are indeed sad and scary. Do you remember when cops used to be considered low-class nothings? Then their pay went up and they became professionals. You, sir, need to be off the streets. I can't imagine how you treat people whom you feel are inferior to you (by the sound of your post, I'd venture that would be zero) as a cop. If your chief doesn't at least send you for diversity training (and I'd add on a good five years of intensive psychotherapy), I think the New Haven Police Department has a huge walking lawsuit.

Posted by: Molly Wheeler | October 27, 2006 12:11 PM

Dear Sgt. Velleca,

I am sorry for everyone's loss in the deaths of Dan Picagli and Manuel Santiago. Your words are another reminder that a basic human rights declaration is not observed by a government officer, that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." I love this city and have faith in its public officials but I do not wish to be served by someone that does not serve in good spirit.

Perhaps you should revisit your Law Enforcement Code of Ethics (published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police), especially:

* As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

* I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

* I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.

Sincerely,
Molly Wheeler
(New Haven)

Posted by: Bruce | October 27, 2006 1:32 PM

I can understand your emotion over losing a fellow officer and I respect that, but what do you know about Mr. Santiago that would make you think his life is less important than someone else's? He risked his life and freedom to help support his mother. That's pretty honorable in my book.

Posted by: SAY WHAT | October 27, 2006 1:54 PM

I cannot say how much I am deeply bothered by this officer's comment and his temerity in posting it to the Independent. I do hope leadership in the City is just as disturbed.

I don't want to be all Polly Anna-ish about this, but if there are others like this Sgt. with this line of reasoning, does it mean that if I get shot in newhallville vs. downtown, the crime is investigated less vigouously or if I am black and poor I am not as valuable to society.

I could go on and on with comparitive values or does the officer limit his value disticntions where it only relates to profession and citzenship? Tell us where this comparison ends Sgt. Velleca so that I can go back to feeling like my life is worth something.

Posted by: FairHvn | October 27, 2006 3:07 PM

Sgt. Velleca--I appreciate your loyalty to your fellow officers--but it is your sworn duty to protect and serve the people of this city--all people. If your personal views make it impossible to do that--go elsewhere.

As a homeowner and New Haven taxpayer, I resent that my tax dollars have contributed one cent to pay the salary of anyone who so clearly disregards the fundamental values of his job. As a Fair Haven resident, I am deeply angered to hear a city representative--let along a police officer--denigrate my neighbors. If this is what you are willing to say in public, I shudder to think how you treat Latino crime victims. And that's no service to any of us in this city that we all must share and love.

Posted by: Chris | October 27, 2006 3:20 PM

I have emailed Chief Ortiz and the Office of the Mayor. Here is an excerpt:

The deaths of Officer Picagli and Mr. Santiago are each tragic in their individual ways. Separate articles actually reported the individual services; a third blurb juxtaposed them for the benefit of the readers. I am a resident and homeowner in Fair Haven, and the murder of Mr. Santiago affects my safety. Furthermore, the murder of an innocent man, working hard for his paycheck and trying to make a new life for himself is sad, regardless of his documentation status. The death of Officer Picagli has affected me in other ways. I was on my bicycle in Wooster Square when he was struck and helped out when the police and ambulance came. I had been following his daily progress and his death deeply impacted me, and I am sorry for his family and colleagues. It also makes me worried as a citizen who bicycles to and from work every day through that neighborhood; it is universally accepted that drivers in New Haven do not create a safe atmosphere for pedestrians and bicyclists (and New Haven has done little to prevent this). For me, the juxtaposition of these two articles made perfect sense. For any citizen of New Haven who is concerned about crime and safety, it should make sense.

I can understand Sergeant Velleca's anger and emotion regarding the death of his colleague. But, that an officer of the Department makes opinions like this public, as a clear representative of the Department (he signed with his rank, rather than just using his name), and even perhaps while he was at work on a shift last night (the note is written at 3:39am, was he up at that hour on his own time?) is really disheartening. To actually write that one person's life (or death) was "more important" is shocking, naive, and even shows hints of discrimination and racism. In the end I find Sergeant Velleca's opinion undermining of the professionalism of his Deparment. It certainly undermines the work of Chief Ortiz and Sergeant Luis Casanova on protecting illegal immigrants from being deported (as reported by the Independent on October 16th).

I hope that the opinions expressed by Officer Velleca do not represent that of the Department. Sergeant Velleca "had the courage to sign" that letter; i wonder if he would also have the courage to say it, in his uniform, to Chief Ortiz or to the Mayor, or any other citizen.

Posted by: Sgt. John Velleca | October 27, 2006 3:41 PM

Racist? I think not, check with anyone who works with of for me. Feel free. Say what you will, Officer Picagli's contribution to the city of New Haven should have earned him his own space on any website. I stand by my initial posting. Am I honestly reading that a New Haven Police Officer's life is of the same value as an undocumented worker? If that is what you think, then call an undocumented, illegal worker the next time you need help. All of you who posted should honestly think what this world would be like without police officers. You have no respect for us.

Posted by: Strangerthanfiction | October 27, 2006 4:28 PM

You can talk about the contributions made by one individual versus another, but to say one life is worth more than another's is very troubling. It is even more so when an officer of the law who carries a weapon and sometimes makes life-and-death decisions is the one proclaiming this.

I would rather the police find out what happened exactly that night when federal Judge John Walker of the Bush clan killed that fine officer. Why has there been no mention of Walker, and his role in the crash that took a life? Has info about Walker been suppressed because it's thought that his life/liberty is really worth alot?

Posted by: concerned in ct | October 27, 2006 5:10 PM

Sgt Velleca, You work and are paid for by my tax dollars. When I call, you come, like the garbage man, or the dog catcher. There is nothing special about that. Would you do it for free? I think not. What makes you think that you are any more special than the poor slob who works a construction site for less than minimum wage because he is undocumented?

Posted by: say what | October 28, 2006 12:57 AM

Your line of reasoning is just so absurd. I resort to insults because you are clearly missing the point here.
Respecting the life of a person, any person, is not equivalent to disrespect for the PD.

You do the fallen officer or your fellow officers no justice by denigrating others. And no I am not going to call an undocumented worker, the next time I need help. We don't call you because you are better than the rest of us or undocumented victims, we call you because the PD is charged with serving and protecting.

By the way, you get a nice paycheck for all that protecting and serving and cruising the web and chastising Paul Bass.

Posted by: The Big Picture | October 28, 2006 3:52 AM

Like Sgt. Vellaca, I was very troubled with
the article regarding Mr.Santiago's wake. It really set my moral compass spinning.

While I certainly agree with the sentiment that the Sarge went overboard in his reaction, I also believe he makes a valid point -- to include Officer Picagli in Mr. Santiago's article was more than just a slap in the face, it was a slap in two faces.

These are two separate, independent, tragedies with no connection whatsoever. To comingle them at all is disrespectful to both the victims, and their families.

But what I found most disturbing was the notion that a local reporter would wander into a stranger's wake, looking for some news.To me, it is a odd way to pay your respects. When I saw the photograph of Mr. Santiago's corpse, and the credit 'photo by Paul Bass', I was repulsed.

If this victim was a member of my immediate family, and a reporter showed up to take snapshots of the corpse to publish in his local news rag, that reporter would be quickly escorted to the door.

If Mr. Bass used this photo, I am sure it was with the family's permission, but it still crosses a line for me.

While the biographical information in the article was certainly worthy of the ink, this is the stuff of obituaries. Paul, like Sgt Vellaca, took it too far.

The ultimate slap is that Mr. Bass clearly exploited these tragedies to make some fuzzy socio-political point about crime and undocumented workers.

Posted by: MRSK | October 28, 2006 1:09 PM

Sgt. Velleca's remarks are profoundly ignorant by any standard. Not only does he make a callous remark about the life of a man he did not know, he does so in the name of a lost officer that it seems would surely not have shared that sentiment. Since the day of his accident, many reports of Officer Dan's numerous contributions have surfaced. He dedicated his service to working with the youth of an inner city. An inner city that is most definately home to minorities and ,yes, even immigrants (illegal and legal). Why make such a hurtful remark about the worth of life when the man you defend seems he would have welcomed the opportunity to make a difference in the life of any man? Take a good long look in the mirror, Sgt...your words do not honor the memory of either man.
And,in response to your second comment, do you really believe that this is an issue of respect for police? Did you see the numbers that turned out for Officer Dan, how many wanted to pay respect to a good man? You are a police officer, not a deity. GET OVER YOURSELF. Many of us work very hard but your job, your immigration status, they do not define your life, your actions do. What do your recent actions say about you? You have judged the worth of two lost lives, now try judging your own.

Posted by: Deborah Frattini | October 28, 2006 6:16 PM

I’m the person who posted first regarding the story of Mr Santiago. My intention was to thank Mr. Bass for doing a story on this immigrant. As I explained in my original posting, I have developed a course entitled “Literature of the Immigrant,� and I was moved to see that the kind of story we read about often in my class had unfolded in our town. As with every story, there is always more to be said. Officer Daniel Picagli was well known on our campus. As a matter of fact, soon after he died, one of my students came to my office and told me of his deep grief over Officer Picagli’s death. My student told me of an incident when Officer Picagli wrote his phone number (including his home phone) on a piece of paper and told my student to call him should he need to. The value of Dan Picagli is not, nor has it ever been, in dispute. I am saddened that the lives of Mr Santiago and Mr Picagli have been pitted against one another. Officer Picagli’s life was devoted to helping others and he took a special interest in youth. In that sense, as a teacher, I feel a special bond with him. And although I did not know him personally, from all that I have read and heard, I have to believe that he, of all people, would have been upset by the rhetoric that has ensued from the Independent’s story. Officer Picagli was someone who honored life, celebrated life—everyone’s life. That is the measure of a great man. There is no contest here, just abiding sadness at the loss of both men’s lives.

Posted by: nfjanette | October 28, 2006 7:46 PM

Sgt Velleca, You work and are paid for by my tax dollars. When I call, you come, like the garbage man, or the dog catcher. There is nothing special about that. Would you do it for free? I think not. What makes you think that you are any more special than the poor slob who works a construction site for less than minimum wage because he is undocumented?

You're mixing apples and oranges, as are most of the other commentators. Officer Dan Picagli's life mattered, and so did Manuel Santiago's. We don't value one good persons life over another from an ethical perspective.

But, Officer Picagli (and Sgt. Velleca) are different from Mr. Santiago in that they made/make a direct contribution to upholding the law and protecting the peace for city residents. And, their job is indeed different from other city services (but similar to the fire fighters) in that they face life-threatening danger on every shift of their work. Sometimes, police officers get corrupted by the power they hold and set themselves apart from other citizens, and we must attempt to prevent those issues. On the other hand, have you ever seen the kind of people they must interact with on a daily basis, and the situations they must resolve? It's hard, dangerous work, and you couldn't pay me any amount to do it.

BTW, I support Sgt. Velleca's right to post comments on this subject. I might suggest, though, that he post as a citizen using his name rather than his formal title, to avoid any misunderstanding about the "official" nature of his remarks.

Posted by: Lee Marvin Fan Club | October 28, 2006 9:42 PM

The loss of Dan is terrible. I hate the fact that a good man died for no reason and I'm angry as hell. And all this has nothing to do with Dan. This is about ... mouthing off. And you wonder why people don't respect the cops? Who are you to put value on one life over another? Santiago isn’t worth as much as Dan because he’s undocumented? How does that belief manifest itself when you're on the beat? And the scary part is that you have a gun and a badge. You give cops everywhere a bad name.

Posted by: Mrs. Dan Picagli | December 5, 2006 11:42 PM

As I grieve for my husband,missing my best friend...and trying to figure out how I am going to get through the holidays without him is hard enough,then I find this. I cannot believe that I have stumbled across this comment page. I am absolutely sick to my stomach to know this page was even started.