New Haven Independent

Posted by: Ritz | April 13, 2009 11:45 AM

Norm Pattis is one awesome defense lawyer - if you're on the other side of him, you've got a good fight on your hands and you'd better have a case.

Posted by: Kells | April 13, 2009 12:47 PM

I agree with you Ritz, and he's one of the most kind-hearted people that i've met. He really fights for his clients.

Posted by: wilton davis | April 13, 2009 12:58 PM

It seems that Mr Dearington loses all of his cases for the city of New Haven,except the slam dunks. It's time to get a better attorney for the city.

Posted by: Bill | April 13, 2009 1:12 PM

The justice system is the pink elephant in the room. The system is completely broken but the lawyers love it. People are prosecuted who shouldn't be, people are found not guilty who shouldn't be and meanwhile the lawyers and judges get rich and the people get screwed. Actually calling it a justice system is too kind. It's an adversarial system that works at the extremes and could care less about justice.

Posted by: STYLENE | April 13, 2009 1:18 PM

YES. VICTORY FOR THE NHPD. HAD HE (WILLOUGHBY) BEEN FOUND GUILTY, THERE WILL BE NO MORE TRUST IN THE NHPD. AS A SISTER OF A NHPD DETECTIVE, IM DELIGHTED IN THE VERDICT.

Posted by: WAYNE RICKS | April 13, 2009 3:12 PM

I have known WILLOUGHBY FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, He have helped many peaple in the community and had one of the best records when it came to catching criminals and making arrest. I REALLY BELEIVE THAT THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION SURFACED BECUASE OF POSSIBLE PROMOTION VACANTCIES AND WHO WANTED CERTAIN POSITIONS.THIS WAS A MODERN DAY LYNCHING WAITING TO HAPPEN.GOOD JOB JURORS AND PATTIS .(WRR)

Posted by: Not surpriped | April 13, 2009 6:57 PM

Today's verdict is the reason why urban youth quickly become disenchanted with law enforcement and the Justice system. The jury should be ashamed of themselves. I'll never understand why society glorifies these blue criminals, which in-turn makes it hard to get convictions.

Posted by: don quixote | April 13, 2009 7:41 PM

Thanks for your years of dedicated service Detective. When God closes one door he always opens a window, but the hallways can be hell. To thine own self be true then thou canst be false to any man. You will be remembered as a big hearted cop who really tried to and did help others. Norm, go easy on those prosecutors, will you? Soon, they will be afraid to bring a case if they perceive a chance they may face you. Think of the good you have done for this fine man and his family! Very few of us ever get the chance to protect someone like you have just done. All the work, years of study, sleepless nights, forever paying off massive student loans-- all of it paid off today! Now City, pay the man gladly for the work he did, just as you wish to be compensated for your work.

Posted by: Larry | April 13, 2009 8:13 PM

I have to agree about Dearington. He is a power hungry prosecutor who can't get out of his own way. When was the last time he won a case. Ancient history I guess.
As far as Willoughby goes I belive his side because he was a good cop. Do you think the Seargent who can't find his own notes for murder cases is competent enough to protect our citizens??? Doubtful.!!!!How convenient he got promoted to his current position.Bogus charges and claims to get rid of the good cops for your own beneit !!!!

Posted by: Ritz | April 13, 2009 8:21 PM

Wayne Ricks' comments are wacky and out of line. What's with the race rhetoric? A number of white officers have been prosecuted and convicted (Billy White is in prison and so is Jason Kaspercak). Ricks needs to stop making a racial issue out of everything he sees. It only makes him look ignorant and simple minded.

Posted by: greg | April 14, 2009 8:52 AM

RE; racial innuendoes by Mr.Ricks, maybe, maybe not. The Feds prosecuted Mr. White and Mr.Kasperck. Mr Dearington prosecuted Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Michael Hunter and lost both. Mr Dearington DID NOT prosecute Mr. Robert Flodquist of East Haven , and the Feds got a civil conviction of a wrongful death in the Malik Jones case. Coincidence ? Maybe, maybe not.

Posted by: Free Speech | April 14, 2009 9:47 AM

I second that RITZ. Rick's use your comments wisely. Not every issue in New Haven is racially motivated.

Posted by: nfjanette | April 14, 2009 11:26 AM

Mr Dearington DID NOT prosecute Mr. Robert Flodquist of East Haven , and the Feds got a civil conviction of a wrongful death in the Malik Jones case. Coincidence ? Maybe, maybe not.

Here is a quote from the New York Times article on that conviction:

While the jury in that civil case found today that Officer Flodquist used ''excessive force'' when he shot Mr. Jones, they also ruled that he should not pay damages because ''a reasonable police officer'' in Officer Flodquist's situation ''could have believed his conduct to be lawful.''

Posted by: greg | April 14, 2009 12:47 PM

i'm not a lawyer, but "excessive force"speaks for itself, and the appeal is not done, i think. Mr. Dearington chose whom to prosecute, and whom not to prosecute. That is my point. Again, i am responding to a possible perception in the community . Just a possibility, that's all

Posted by: wilton davis | April 14, 2009 5:57 PM

The prosecutions in New Haven aren't so much about race , more about connections, political connections or departmental connections. The New Haven P.D. has been internally foul for many decades. Mr. Dearington loses because of selective prosecution and the inability to prove his case's. if you are connected to the mayor or the old gaurd in the department, you will not be prosecuted, billy white ran wild for 2 or 3 decades , the whole town knew he was dirty no prosecution,the feds finally stoped his dirty run.

Posted by: Just Saying | April 14, 2009 7:30 PM

Greg, I don't think it's appropriate that Hunter be mentioned in the same article as Willoughby. After all, he attempted to railroad him. It is my understanding he was subpoeaned during his trial by Pattis. Just for the record, Dearington chose not to prosecute Hunter due to prosecutorial discretion among other reasons. However evidence proved he committed the crime and only got away because of past precedent. NHPD has a long road to building integrity. The trial exposed years of abuse by their own. Kudos to Attorney Pattis and Willoughy for going the distance. Hunter did not have the heart to take his case to trial because he knows in his heart of hearts, he is Guilty.....

Posted by: greg | April 15, 2009 9:02 AM

i am unfamiliar with the intricacies of either case, Hunter or Willoughby. My entry was a direct response to a conversation heard in Westville among lay people, not those in the know downtown, as to who gets prosecuted by Dearington and who doesnt. The perception remains the same that Flodquist was protected,among those on the outside, while no doubt others are more attuned to connections, etc. We claim no expertise, just public interest.

Posted by: Mark A Dobuzinsky | April 15, 2009 11:24 PM

This comment is for not surprised,you were not on the Jury,don't comment about things you know nothing about.You need evidence to convict someone.

Mark Jury Foreman