New Haven Independent

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 4, 2008 4:52 PM

No way!! I am standoffish on this one....He is way to good of a cop!!!! What did the 6 week investigation show???

Posted by: James | June 4, 2008 4:56 PM

Sad if true. Hopefully it's not as bad as it sounds.

Posted by: david streever | June 4, 2008 5:04 PM

What about the cop that illegally parks on Nicol all day?

What about the cops who routinely run red lights with neither siren nor lights

Who double-park/park in front of fire hydraunts/park in handicapped spaces/etc all over downtown, right in front of Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts?

What about the cops who ride their bikes the wrong way down streets on the sidewalk no less?

It's disturbing that we have so many cops who see fit to break the laws.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 4, 2008 5:43 PM

I wonder if he was on overtime when this alleged offense took place.

David, you forgot to mention all the cops sitting around talking on their cell phones while on duty.

Posted by: jp | June 4, 2008 6:09 PM

this guy works the door at bar on crown street on thursday and friday nights so im guessing he was being paid by bar at the time.

Posted by: david streever | June 4, 2008 6:36 PM

I don't mind if they slack off a little! they have a tough job, everyone deserves a little break. I mean, yea, they have a very important job that requires a lot of attention, but hey, it's not that big of a deal to me.

I'm really disturbed by the way they exploit traffic laws & parking laws. I think it lets them comfortably ignore the reality of driving/biking in New Haven--and that's unforgiveable, because they refuse to issue tickets to motorists "at fault" in collisions with bikes.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 4, 2008 6:36 PM

Peronally I would love a cops just sitting about in Cedar Hill I will bring him coffee and the community will bring him dinner if they would just park it here!!! One night there was a cop just parked reading a paper in East Rock I stopped and asked him if he could read his paper over in my area ....not a happy man that I asked! but he is not just an East Rock cop he is a Cedar Hill cop!! And should at least drive through!!!

Posted by: Disclosed Name...Duh | June 4, 2008 7:04 PM

Mr mayo works at Bar on Saturdays extra duty.

Posted by: Thomas | June 4, 2008 7:08 PM

Whoops. Looks like Maio might have been looking for "access," too.

Seriously, it's not Paul Bass' fault that the random cop he happened to fluff up turned out to (allegedly) be a bad egg. It just reveals the stupidity of having a "Cop of the Week" feature. Cops get more than there share of laudatory coverage in our society; it's the responsibility of journalists - particularly those who might fancy themselves "progressive" or "investigatory" - to engage more critically with their role in our communities.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 4, 2008 9:27 PM

Dave, just a question, but how do you ride a bike the wrong way down a street?, I know the sidewalk is supposed to be a no no, but going the wrong way??.
Hey Fair Haven, does it matter what shift he was working, or if he was on overtime, these allegations are pretty serious, so maybe these blogs shouldn't be so petty like who's drinking coffee or riding a bike on sidewalks.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 4, 2008 10:24 PM

Hooligan, you're right the allegations are serious, which is why I chose to refrain from comments that judge the guy before some serious truth is shed on the matter.

In the meantime, police overtime is also a serious problem. Smuts & Co are draining our city's resources and it is a proven fact. I don't have to wait to criticize that.

BTW, who's petty now?

Posted by: Kyle | June 5, 2008 7:27 AM

Small traffic violations by the police may seem insignificant, but they set a precedent. Ordinary citizens learn that it's OK to do it if you can get away with it. As noted here often in the last few weeks, this generates a street culture where New Haveners will blithely run red lights/ignore crosswalks/speed, if they think they can get away with it - which they generally can.

It also erodes respect for the police force; but that's a different matter.

Posted by: Deuce | June 5, 2008 8:15 AM

Maybe he can get a job with the Madison PD.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 5, 2008 8:17 AM

Fair Havener

The point is the your comments are make no sense, so why add your two cents, if you look just two articles down, you'll see that there citing two cops for bravery ( William Gargone, Mike Torre ), and I don't see your silly response to overtime in those comment sections.

Stick to the issues when you comment, this cop is here to protect us and he's being charged with sexual assault, was he drinking?, was he on duty?, these are questions that should be asked.

Posted by: Doriss William | June 5, 2008 8:38 AM

Peronally I would love a cops just sitting about in Cedar Hill I will bring him coffee and the community will bring him dinner if they would just park it here!!! One night there was a cop just parked reading a paper in East Rock I stopped and asked him if he could read his paper over in my area ....not a happy man that I asked! but he is not just an East Rock cop he is a Cedar Hill cop!! And should at least drive through!

Cedar Hill is a postage stamp of a place--what, 3 city blocks?--bounded by an interstate highway to the South, a park, East Rock to the North, and Upper-Upper State St. Never knew where it was for the longest time. You could probably fit it inside "the Hill" forty-eight times.

What do you have there? A Hess station and Superior Exchange! Do you have a block watch organization? If not, why not? Actually, if more cops got out of their cars and walked the neighborhood at crucial times, that would be better. But that's another another story and another fifteen bucks,.. union demands at the "bargaining table." Just driving thru, you miss a lot, especially if you're going the wrong-way on a one-way.

I think Cedar Hill should just secede and go with neighboring Hamden. You heard it here first. I mean you can always leave!?! Fairhaven is just across the highway.

Posted by: omerta | June 5, 2008 8:43 AM

Sad. A cop gets accused and is guilty before due process. Shows the damage Billy White and Kasperkzy have done.

Posted by: Free B Love | June 5, 2008 9:43 AM

Maio is accused of being a dirty cop - the city just defended (December 2007) Maio in a civil action (Federal) - that could have cost the city thousands- he was accused of beating a young black man named Bryant "B LOVE" Williams.

At the trial- the city claimed that Maio was the pride of the department- However, the residents of Dwight -knew different.

Compared to Billy White - maybe he is the pride of the department!

Shame on the city for covering for him!

Posted by: none | June 5, 2008 10:05 AM

It seems to me when a NHPD has a problem with one of their officers' The community bash everyone in the PD about cell phones, coffee shops, newspaper reading. We have a great Dept. and everyone there works hard and puts their life on the line everyday. So folks do not judge a book by its cover they are not all bad. Praise them once in awhile.

Posted by: AM | June 5, 2008 10:12 AM

Here we go again the community starting to bad mouth the NHPD again. As soon as an officer is involved with a problem they all suffer, who is on cell phones, reading newspapers, coffee shops. There is always bashing to the rest of the officers. They are not all bad the put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities give them a break. They are in a no win situation.

Posted by: non | June 5, 2008 10:49 AM

A few months ago a young crown street club-goer told me there is a regular cop on duty at one of the clubs who comes on to women in the most vulgar way all the time. Hope he isn't the norm. These women are colleged-aged. The woman who told me this was a college student and didn't want to give the cop's name. She wasn't traumatized by it, she was just disgusted by it. Apparently he was extremely crude in his advances. He definitely affected her image of cops.

Posted by: Newbie | June 5, 2008 11:05 AM

Oh Fairhavener.... petty? Well ain't that the pot calling the kettle black!

You've felt the need to put in your two cents all over the blogs this week and last week, and the week before... providing bad jokes and banal commentary that fails to contribute to the discussion at hand. So here's your time to shine, make yourself usefull for all your words, what "proven facts" can you come up with?

Or are we to settle for another bad crack joke?

Posted by: Newbie | June 5, 2008 11:19 AM

Oh I forgot....

"I can't speak for the others, but I have done more for my community than all the prayers since the founding of New Haven." -Fairhavener

That was taken from the school prayer debate. And by "done more" you mean proved even more ineffectual in prompting positive change in the community than well meaning religious instructors?

I believe you are one of the bloggers Andy Ross was talking about. Get of your high horse, sit down, and learn how to properly contribute to an intellectual discussion. Dissing others and self promotion ceased to be effective debating techniques after the 5th grade.

Posted by: joe | June 5, 2008 11:27 AM

Gee, that would be a problem ...

BRYANT WILLIAMS
Plaintiff CIVIL NO.
VS. 3:01cv01630 (DFM)
ANTHONY J. MAIO and
CHRISTOPHER A. RUBINO NOVEMBER 1, 2007
Defendants

MOTION IN LIMINE TO REDACT THE WORD ASSAULT FROM PORTIONS OF HOSPITAL RECORD

excerpt:
"Plaintiff will be introducing into evidence at the trial of this matter the hospital record from the Hospital of Saint Raphael that pertains to the treatment that he received at that facility on October 25, 1998. Defendants object to those portions of the hospital record that make reference to the term "assault" or "assaulted" and request that they be redacted. At the very least, defendants seek the redaction of the term "ASSAULT" that is contained under the "Final Diagnosis" section of the hospital record. Defendants believe that this is unfairly predudicial to them as it seems to imply, and it could convey to the jury, that a medical professional at the hospital has reached the conclusion that the plaintiff was indeed assaulted as he claims"

(Judge denied this motion as moot because of some agreement reached between the parties)

Posted by: The public at large | June 5, 2008 2:19 PM

BRYANT WILLIAMS, was convicted by a jury of his peers, for assualt on a "peace officer". Mr. Williams turned down multiple plea deals and took his case to trial AND LOST! Mr. Williams was found guilty by a JURY and sentenced for punching Ofc. Maio in the face during that incident.

Why did he punch Maio in the face? Because he was being arrested and was in the process of being searched by several officers, not just ofc Maio. Just thought that should be known.

Williams was an alleged gang member of the "Tre Bloods" and had quite a reputation in the Dwight/Kensington area. It's not an officers fault when your arresting someone and they decide they don't want to go to jail and think it's alright to punch a cop in the face, no matter what cop it is.

I just have no idea why someone would bring that case up because it has nothing to do with these charges agaist Maio? I personally hope these charges are unfounded, because it does not sound like the Maio I knew. But to bring up the Williams case has no bearing on this case whatsoever. Are you suggesting that all the other officers who were at the scene of that arrest back in 1998 are all "dirty" because Maio is "accused" of something now in 2008?

I hope these charges prove to be unfounded, because Tony Maio was a very decent person, not just a good cop. If he is found guilty, then he's been hiding a side to him that was unknown to almost everyone who has known him.

Posted by: Free B Love | June 5, 2008 8:07 PM

Public at large- you must be part of the New Haven police or the corporation council's spin machine!

You were wrong to deny Williams justice! Does every young black man from the area have to be labeled a gang member? Typical!

Maio is a dirty cop and the city rejoiced- when they won their case!

This city- again will try to cover- for this accused rapist- however- the Free B Love Movement- will make sure- that this guy does get away another crime!

Shame on the city for protecting this accused rapist!

Free Bryant "B Love" Williams

Posted by: none | June 5, 2008 8:41 PM

Not all the cops in the department are bad as people want to judge them by the faults of a few bad one. I lived in fairhaven for twenty years with have a few good ones and several bad ones there. But my aunt lives in the dixwell area and she says the cops there a beautiful people who love to work with the community. lets give praise to the good cops.

Posted by: Joe | June 5, 2008 8:50 PM

I brought it up because I thought it was interesting that the city would file a motion to prevent the jury knowing that he was assaulted.

And also becaues in the past, IA refused to review civil suits, so they matter less than they should. It was not uncommon to hear it said that civil suits don't count. It's not the jury's verdict in those cases that are reviewed so much as independently reviewing the evidence that comes out in the case.

Williams was convicted of his conduct while police were detaining him and was not convicted for any of the charges police said they were detaining him for.

I don't know either of these people - Maio or Williams.

As far as I am concerned, in the present incident, Maio is innocent until proven guilty. I honestly have absolutely no predisposition to believing the charge or not.

Posted by: truth hurts | June 6, 2008 1:48 PM

Yeah, like that was Williams' only arrest or conviction. The simple truth is he WAS involved in a gang. Until the community starts recognizing our youth at risk, many who have an absent parent, you are all in denial. He has a lengthy criminal history and should be held accountable for the original charge and for assault. That's the problem is having punks in our society who have a sense of entitlement. It is easy to be a bad kid today.....the strong, hard-working kid would stop using past generations for an excuse and start being a solution to the problems. No problem driving a fancy car, eating four meals a day from restuarants and wearing the Mr. T starter kit. I've seen kids who've worked hard for the necessities in life, who didn't care about having "it all" or the title of "bad ass". Those are the kids I give credit to. As far as Maio, the truth will come out and he should be held accountable as well. Remember, there are hundreds of cops in New Haven. Don't have an opinion based on a very small percentage.

Posted by: david streever | June 6, 2008 3:00 PM

Sorry, to assume:
when I read the quote from the Chief, I thought it was decided already "This is not conduct we condone"--seemed to imply that it was established that he'd commited misconduct.

Hooligan--
sorry to take so long!

Riding the wrong way, means against traffic.

What's wrong with this? It signficantly increases the chance of death.

Same thing with riding on the sidewalk.

Want to REALLY have a good shot at dying? Try riding against traffic on a sidewalk! There is no scenario where you are as at risk as this one.

I harp on this because I see it all day: and I know that the chance of death is increased by it.

I don't want to see any of my fellow cyclists dead or injured, if I can prevent it.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 6, 2008 4:26 PM

Dave

I didn't know that, wow, it makes sense. But if a cop is answering a call or patrolling a neighborhood, like say....Front St. ( hint, hint ), It wouldn't really bother me if he were riding the wrong way.

But thanks for the info. I hope all turns out well for Officer Mayo.

Posted by: Free B Love | June 6, 2008 9:52 PM

Bryant Williams is not a gang member- and he comes from a good old New Haven family- he is the first cousin to former Alderwoman Barbara Gorham Walker D- 30 and his brother a Yale graduate built a real estate empire- from nothing!

The police- may want to cover for Maio- but, the truth is- he is a bad cop!

Posted by: Auntie Andrea | June 9, 2008 7:26 AM

Officer Maio is a remarkable man and a great cop. While this incident is under invesigation, I can say that he will come away from this not at fault.

Posted by: bfair | June 11, 2008 2:26 PM

Ok, I know I am setting myself AGAIN for the haters but go ahead sharpen you daggers and take your best shot. I agree with Autnie Andrea to a point. Officers tend to "walk away with this not at fault". This is part of the problem. Convict Billy White was once heralded as "top cop" and now he's in W Va doing time with other criminals and it took decades of crime which the community knew about all along before he was brought down. What is amazing to me is that it only took a 6 week investigation to effectuate an arrest.My nephew's case (which is a year old as of June 6) is still waiting for action. Makes you wonder who the complaintants are. Must be someone they can't label as convicts or gang bangers as a means of excusing police behavior. AGAIN, there are many good officers and AGAIN I commend their great work but I won't turn a blind eye to the bad cops. OK you can go now. lol