New Haven Independent

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | March 15, 2007 2:07 PM

You guys are putting forward one hell of a charge. There is a difference between the Mayor perhaps backing up White in a personnel dispute, and him "having his fingers all over" White's misdeeds.

Look, the questions should be asked, but words should be chosen more carefully...

Posted by: pinkbicycle | March 15, 2007 2:56 PM

Who cares about what the NAACP thinks. They couldn't mobilize themsleves out of a paper bag. The CT NAACP is always on the outside looking in--since Roger Vann left the helm. What exactly will they do after all the grandstanding...NOTHING! It will be all rhetoric and emotion and no real plan of action. Please go have a party...its what you do best.

Posted by: kris | March 15, 2007 3:19 PM

I think DeStefano needs to be interrogated....and we should let Marna Borgstom do it : )

Posted by: Evan | March 15, 2007 4:55 PM

Pretty sad day for the NAACP. They might want to think about getting someone with a little more brains at the helm. This guy just seems like a wacko.

That said, the NH Independent feeds his rhetoric by suggesting in the title and first paragraphs that the mayor's "fingerprints" are all over the White's alleged misdeeds, and then waiting until the 4th paragraph to begin explaining the episode Esdaile is REALLY referring to. Suffice to say, this is an extremely misleading and pretty poorly constructed article. I suspect many readers have come to expect a significantly higher quality of work from the NHI.

Posted by: Stewart | March 15, 2007 7:13 PM

Uh-oh, here come the opportunists! Blood is in the water and do-nothing career politicos recognize a feeding frenzy when they see one.

Sure, White should pay a heavy price . I have no sympathy for him. But last I checked he stole from drug dealers and thugs. Not getting much sympathy from me.

Posted by: paul bass | March 15, 2007 9:32 PM

I revised this story based on the comments above by readers. I think you're right; I struggled with this story before I wrote it to try to make it as fair as possible. On the one hand, I believe the criticism of the mayor is newsworthy and advanced by credible people. So I didn't want to downplay it, whether or not I agree with all of it. (Yes, I think there are legitimate questions about management, the kind of questions DeStefano rightly poses to leaders of other institutions, like Yale-New Haven. No, I don't believe DeStefano would have gone out of his way to protect Billy White's job, since White is not one of his supporters; and I've never known DeStefano, over the decades I've covered him, to break the law or consider improperly taking money for his personal gain.) The criticism and organizing in the black community over this issue are also politically significant news. But I didn't want to overstate the criticism or suggest that DeStefano was in some way personally tied in to actual corrupt acts (theft, bribery); no one has suggested that. However, I fear that the way I wrote the original headline and opening paragraphs, that suggestion may have come across. Good editing job, folks; thanks for the feedback.

Posted by: Steve | March 15, 2007 11:22 PM

New Haven is the "Wild West". Let's consider that Mayor DeStefano left the City gates wide open when he went on a self serving run for governor close to 4 years ago. Since then the city has been a leader less domain for the wild days of old. Alderman arrested for embezzling government funds, another for threatening and violating restraining orders, another for breach of peace (fighting) outside a late night club downtown.

We have a huge increase in the murder rate and shootings, while the police department conveniently stops producing the crime statistics.

The City officials spend money without the proper authorizations and then announce we have a (very understated)$4,000,000 deficit and the announced cure is to sell off some more city assets.

The mayor has determined that the best administrators that he can find to support his agenda for you and me, is to appoint every campaign worker that carried his signs during is failed bid for governor.

Let's look at this as a violation of all of our trust. This is about "Abuse of Power". This is the same stuff we see on a national level. It is about power, greed, ego and using the people for one's own advantage.

This is a TRAGIC TIME for our great city. The center is not holding and our leaders have failed us. The path from here will only get more perilous unless we cutaway the whole cancer.

Posted by: concerned in the hood | March 16, 2007 12:56 AM

One can't help but wonder how deep does this cop corruption really run. Is this only about stealing from thugs and taking bribes from bondsmen?

Or, is there more to the fact that those of us complaining for years about drug dealing and gun peddling have seen little done in certain communities.

Were certain people being protected?

One can only wonder.

Posted by: bjfair | March 16, 2007 6:14 AM

Good job guys, deflect from the fact that this THUG with a badge has finally been brought down from his reign of terror in the New Haven community. Give him a longtime paid leave followed by a disabilty pension and maybe instead of "cop of the year" maybe "super cop of the year commendation. No wonder so many outsdie the New Haven community want to be cops. You're abovethe law!!!.We may never know all the disgusting acts this criminal has committed and his family should support him since he supported them with his disgusting criminal enterprise. He fed his family off the destruction of so many families in the last 20 years plus. Many have reported corruption to the NHPD for probably just as long as White has been a thug but because his brothers and sisters in blue have to honor the blue code of silence heand others are allowed to wreck havoc hiding behind the NHPD badge and a chief who was unaware of all the corruption in this department for at least 2 decades. Of course the community is not surprised about any of this. If there was any ral backbone in NHPD a lot more cops will follow White and his sidekick because he did not operate alone.No Stewart, I don't expect you to have any sympathy for anyone except a thug like White. White and others commit these atrocities without impunity because of indifferent people like you. I don't blame White for his unscrupulous behavior. I blame the administraiton that allowed him to flourish. This community has cried out about this long reign of corruption but this adminstration couldn't stop him. I am under no illusion that much will change with White's arrest. His behavior is a part of a culture of thievery and lawlessness that has permeated this department for decades.How can anyone be expected to respect a state that seems to exude thugs in blue uniform, 3 piece suits and jeans and sweatshirts. From the streets to the courtrooms to the capitol.Police and prosecutors stealing from those they prosecute. THUGS EVERYWHERE!!! yet who continues to fill the plantations around the state? And the beat goes on.

Posted by: ann | March 16, 2007 9:06 AM

Kris and City of New Haven:

I think the city should have a "CARD COUNT VOTE" to kick Mayor DeStefano out of office. Never let it go to a secret ballot vote to re-elect him.

Posted by: Joe | March 16, 2007 4:48 PM

Secret ballot or not, I just want to say the NHI provided the best coverage -- by far -- of this story. Yea to "Independent" Journalism!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 16, 2007 5:33 PM

I dont'have sympathy for Billy White because he broke the law and he needs to pay for that crime... But we do have to sit back and look at the situation. Here is a cop that was undercover alot, dealing with the low of lows everyday for 39 years protecting us; there is know way the higher ups did not know he was "fryed"! Are they not suppose to keep an eye on officers state of mind? Every person I have talk to in the past few days said they knew he was dirty. You can not say that just the citizens knew this...some bosses must of knew?

I think he should get at least some of his pention not all of it. I look at Billy White no different than you look at a vet back from war post tramatic stress. Having to live in two different worlds and he came to a point were the world as an undercover narc was the real one. Officers should be held accountable for there actions but the Department is responsible for making sure that the men on the street are capable of dealing with the temptaions that that blue uniform affords them. And the officers that work with these men think that when they see an officer doing wrong that they are bound by the brotherhood of there uniforms not to rat them out. But look at what happened you guys really did him a favor! Instead of stopping it when it started he is now in deeper shit! So NHPD do your fellow officers the favor of calling them on there wrong doings before it gets out of control. Better a slap on the hand then jail.

ok with that all said "concerned in the hood" your comment "Were certain people being protected?" Is what we in my area thinks about one buissness because there is not dame way that these people should be getting away with what they have been unless someone is getting payed off! And that someone is worning them when they are being looked at! We are almost sure that we have it in our area !! And as previously stated I pray that they are part of this!

Posted by: Nat Turner | March 16, 2007 9:04 PM

This is officialy sin city! At the end of the day can you really blame [the cops]? [They] took advantage of a sweet opportunity - terrorizing leaderless black communities unchecked for decades in the name of a drug war in which everybody was on the take. And all you "black leaders" and alderman are crazy. You fight with the mayor one week, then you're friends the next, shaking hands at press conferences only emerging from the shadows and "wards" when the cameras are on. One of you "black leaders, "posing as a man of the cloth has joined the bandwagon because he didn't get the mayor's "permission" to run against Bill Dyson. Another "black leader"is an attorney/ ex-wannabe Tom Joyner and needs to stick to being a public defender... And then there's Mr. NAACP... [he] specializes in the art of controversy, but not much else. He is a prime example of why the NAACP has not remained relevant . And Roger Vann, nice job. You haven't had this much attention since you took the NAACP presidency from Haywood Hooks. Disassociate while you can.

Everybody's got a hidden agenda. Don't believe the hype.

Posted by: SWHAT | March 17, 2007 11:29 AM

NAACP and other black "leaders" are a bunch of opportunists. Now they want to use this moment to get thousands of dollars out of the city to throw parties in an effort to save black youth. Please!

Posted by: bjfair | March 17, 2007 11:53 AM

No disrepect Cedar hill resident, but do you really believe Billy White and others like him are really out there day in and day out to protect and serve "us"?. I believe White and others like him are there to (1) wield the awesome power that they have been given (2)protect their quality of life and (3)secure their futures. For decades of police work Billy made it very clear how he felt about "us". He is a disgrace to all the officers who are invested in our community and doing a fantastic job. I can appreciate the difficult position the chief is in because he has to contend with a mayor,a police union and police commissioners who chose for decades to turn a blind eye to corrupt cops. Now they want to make statements like "I'm disgusted and concerned". At least no one has said they are "surprised". Judicial corruption is in this state is systemic from prosecutors(in Milford and New Haven) CAUGHT pocketing money collected from people in court,attorneys convicted of stealing from their clients, rampant police misconduct and last the judges and legislators who tolerate it all and when it's all over they retire with a fat pension!!What a system. We could all put aside morals, honesty and integrity and excuse what we do by stating that we are living in an environment of temptation.We don't accept that excuse from our children so why from adults? White had the choice to remove himself from temptation but he fought to stay there so he could maximze his opportunities. He chose to mingle with the gang member and the drug dealer because birds of a feather flock together. We don't have to condemn him but we certainly don't need to entertain the thought that he is some kind of hero or saviour. What kind of twisted message is that to give to our children who you can bet is watching all this.

Posted by: Clifford W. Thornton, Jr. | March 17, 2007 1:21 PM

All that was said is good. However, please read this uninformed statement the mayor made below from the Stamford Advocate.

DeStefano said he continued to have confidence in Ortiz.

"This was such outrageous behavior," DeStefano said. "There's nothing that suggests to me this is a systemic or institutional problem." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n321/a05.html

Well let me refer him to http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/385/thisweek1.shtml

There are tons of corrupt cop stories from all over the country. Over ninety percent are drug related.

When I ran for governor I said, " Every day, cops, not all cops, are faced with "do I take the money or turn it in". This is an institutional problem. There is just to much money in the drug business, most of it is untraceable. No one should be exposed to this type of temptation every day.

Posted by: Ben Ross | March 17, 2007 7:52 PM

When is the trial? Watch for a quick change of venue!!!! Right to a speedy trial!!!! my guess 3 years!
....you mean to say New haven has an illegal gambling club?
I wonder which cases need review, how much evidence was tampered with? The mayor should face some close questioning, community policing needs to be reinstated. Krime is closely related to economic opportunity. No real jobs = little optimism = plenty drug deals. Quick build more luxury apartments.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 18, 2007 10:40 AM

Ben Ross
Every where is gambling... but a card came for a few dollars is different than the card games that some communities have. My area got the business that were pushed out of Fair Haven. One Fair Haven officer told me that he was glad they were finally out of his district. Three month after he moved in the crime in my area jumped! The drug dealing was being done in the open eighter in front of the business or they would run back and forth to the Hess. A prostitute went up to my son at the time 17.. I can give a whole list of crab! Then we saw Billy White in Oct. He gave us his cell and told us he would help! Not!! We gave a lot of cops the info they all knew! Id ne,t the chief, the asstaint chief. Nothing! They slow down ever so often but they are even now still open for business. Tell me why a barber shop needs to be open at 2 in the morning? So my area has gotten the shaft. And I am sure that this is a case that need to be looked at again and the fair haven cops that got them out of fair haven know what this business is doing and should help out district cops out.
So yes there are a few dirty cops out of control I am sure. And this business is proof because someone is getting payed off for them to still be open!

bjfair I think at one time all officers had the dream of making the city a safe place to live and wanted to protect us even Billy White. I do think that he should be found guilty and do time because as you said "What kind of twisted message is that to give to our children who you can bet is watching all this." Rules are rules there are no excuses! But I do think that officers should be watched because there is no way people in blue did not know this was happening. I think that even the best cop can get wrapped up it this crap. And that the higher up should have something in place to protect them against there selves.

I do know there are a lot of great cops in New Haven and I think the department can be saved we just need to ID the ones that are letting areas like mine down.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 18, 2007 10:51 AM

ps...
Nat Turner not sin city try New Jack City!

Posted by: JDGrove | March 19, 2007 10:47 AM

What I don't understand is

- If the FBI thought White was doing something improper 8 months to a year ago, why didn't they just tell Ortiz and discretely force White into retirement. Why the need for entrapment of a 63 year old guy? Why the need for public specticle? New Haven has a bad enough image already!!

- If the law says guilty until proven innocent, why did Ortiz say he was "disgusted" etc., basically saying his subordinate was guilty. Why didn't he reserve comment until White is tried?

- Shouldn't Ortiz be on the hook for letting this go on? Shouldn't DeStefano?

- How no one notices the scary fact that the FBI has gained enough power to close a whole police department headquarters (what about Federalism? State's Rights?). One wonders if the Feds aren't aiming higher? Ultimately, like any public entity, from time to time the people running it try to justify their existence.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 19, 2007 1:48 PM

JDGrove I am sure Ortiz was not in on the investigation. And I am glad we are having this spectical because now they can not ignore what the people of New Haven have been saying anymore!

I am glad the FBI is here. This city is out of control and it needs to be put on the right track again. And under the watch of the state troopers and the FBI maybe just maybe we can get our streets back.
Not sure were you live but parts of this city have not seen officers in them at all for the longest time. Maybe now they will come out and fight crime again.
I am tierd of everyone blaming Ortiz (I do not like the man) but please do not use him as a scapegoat! There are alot more higher ups and cops on the street that screwed things up. We the people of New Haven want someone to hang but let it be the right people.

Posted by: nat turner | March 21, 2007 9:38 AM

cedar hill resident: newjack or sin city,...this is an appetite for destruction! the question is does the national N.A.A.CP know about this shake down? if not i don't think they will be pleased with this "loose cannon". there was a secret meeting and they're trying to clean this crap up. once again this is a bad example of abuse of power and pimpin' controversy to get money. i'm ashamed as a black man myself. not to mention embarrassed:(

Posted by: nat turner | March 21, 2007 9:42 AM

cedarhill resident: my email is madblackman365@yahoo.com

Posted by: JDGrove | March 21, 2007 7:06 PM

cedarhillresident - My point about the FBI is that no one even thinks about the fact that there has been no explanation as to why our state and local powers need to be usurped by the Federal Gov't in this situation. I hoped that the media would pick up on the angle, but most reporters don't really understand the Constitution so I was clearly delusional in that hope. It boils down to the fact that if you don't like how things are being run in New Haven, the answer is to throw the bums out. It's that simple. Not bring in the Feds. It smells to me like the Feds involvement was the result of a political decision to save the current administration -- and some administrator at the FBI or the DOJ decided how to handle the situation to further that end. They don't give a crank about New Haven itself.