New Haven Independent: City Hall Huddle on Willoughby

City Hall Huddle on Willoughby

by Paul Bass | February 6, 2008 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

City officials huddled in the mayor’s office Wednesday afternoon about what appeared to be a new development involving an investigation of a police detective.

A public announcement was expected, perhaps as early as Wednesday evening, about the case of Det. Clarence Willoughby.

The police department’s internal affairs unit is looking into whether Willoughby misused confidential information funds. Willoughby has denied wrongdoing in articles detailing the investigation, by the Register’s William Kaempffer.

The investigation is ongoing. No warrant has been prepared for Willoughby’s arrest, New Haven State’s Attorney Michael Dearington said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re reviewing it. If there’s probable cause, we will apply for an arrest warrant.” He declined comment on the case.

So did the people who huddled in the mayor’s office at from 1:30 to 2 p.m. The group included Mayor John DeStefano, Police Chief Cisco Ortiz, Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts, and mayoral spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga.

It is believed that the investigation, by the police department’s internal affairs unit, may be reaching the stage of an imminent issuance of a warrant for Willoughby’s arrest. The investigation would continue beyond Willoughby.

If Willoughby is arrested, he would be immediately placed on administrative leave, suspended with pay. The chief would recommend his firing. The case would come before the Board of Police Commissioners.

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Comments

Posted by: James | February 6, 2008 3:27 PM

Well, my immediate reaction is that he's probably guilty. Not that I know a damn thing about the case or Willoughby, but I think that this department has worn out its benefit of the doubt. But then I read:

"If Willoughby is arrested...[t]he chief would recommend his firing."

It's one thing for me to be a skeptical blood-thirsty jerk who assumes all of NH's finest are crooks. That's my personal opinion and it's not actionable. Administrative leave, OK. But fire the guy for an arrest? A conviction, sure. But an arrest? Should somebody lose their job for being arrested? What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Yeah, I do get the irony of me saying this. That's partly my point. Wow, what an f'd up town we live in.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | February 6, 2008 4:45 PM

I am still so in awe on this one. I had Willoughby down as a good cop. And the cops that I though would go down have not. Hmmm

Posted by: citysavior | February 6, 2008 6:29 PM

Wake up its business as usual. watch the good old boy network will continue soon with a supervisor in the detective division husband being transfered to a plum assignment as well as a captain's husband what a sham that this day in time people are still taking care of there own.

New Haven Independent

City Hall Huddle on Willoughby

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