New Haven Independent

posted by: concernedcitizen on February 2, 2011  1:51pm

Officer O’connell is simply a bully. Has been since he was a marshal with the judicial dept. I witnessed him knocking down a drunk man in front of toads who could barely walk .... The Fire Dept had to come and treat the man for a head injury. When they asked what happened officer O’connell stated the man fell. Numerous witnesses saw him push the man but no-one would talk for fear of retaliation. ...

posted by: Daniel Casey on February 2, 2011  2:09pm

CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD!

DEMAND IT

posted by: HewNaven?? on February 2, 2011  2:25pm

With fine, up-standing officers like Dennis O’Connell being protected by the thuggish Police Union, its no wonder they have the full support of the public.

How is it possible that NINE complaints against one officer have gone to Internal Affairs and not ONE has been substantiated. Is it a great cosmic coincidence that he has been continually falsely accused in police brutality incidents? Or, is he just a really bad cop that is protected by systematic corruption? Let’s all take a vote of confidence on the IA process.

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on February 2, 2011  2:26pm

The funerals of the slain in NH have been for the most part that of young black men, not police officers.

To now potentially arm officers with high powered rifles is an admission that the officers have lost control of the streets and the DeStefano Administration has lost control of the city.

I have have been/am a long time supporter of law enforcement. However, for this officer to have been accused nine times and not so much as a suspension has been levied against him, is both egregious and dangerous to society.

The fact of the matter is this, we can’t on one hand find it being a conundrum when young men refuse to snitch on those who are perpetuating violence on the streets. And conversely, not hold those to the same standard who are demonstrating the same thing, on the force.

posted by: streever on February 2, 2011  2:32pm

Did she also explain why it took over a year to let the accuser know?

Can she explain how they know that he was not handcuffed at the time of the treatment?

Can she explain a single fact, even one, about the matter, or is it just a few cops decided that another cop was innocent?

Why is that private citizens have to go through public trials but a police officer is investigated by his colleagues with neither oversight nor transparency?

The NHPD has some serious problems.

posted by: Sunday on February 2, 2011  3:36pm

All I have to say is the “Fox guarding the Hen House”.

posted by: anon on February 2, 2011  3:43pm

Furthermore, Streever how exactly did they establish the facts? Did they ever talk to the complainant? Beyond the report he filed and the officer’s word, what exactly did IA do to ascertain the “truth”?  This is perplexing.

I am more ticked than ever that the Mayor has no interest in taming his police department and quelling the rampant murders in the streets. After all, no valuable lives are being taken in their eyes.

The officers blame the thugs and their families and don’t give a damn about the innocent people who are dumb enough to live here or whose pocketbooks only allow them to live in what these cops consider to be a cesspool.

It is unfortunate that the Mayor can only focus on one thing at a time. This is the year of education reform, to hell with all other issues.

The Police Commissioners are wussies, the Chief and his allies are up against a union of thugs and loudmouths and I can’t imagine that even the most junior rookie has an iota of respect or fear for the Chief Admin Officer.  A laughable hiearchy!

posted by: DEEPLY CONCERNED on February 2, 2011  5:57pm

How many police officers in the NHPD would stop someone they suspect of some type of legal infraction, and let the person go after learning that the person had 9 previous violations, or had been accused 9 times before of breaking the law?  Many police officers in such cases will lock someone up even if the present situation for which the person was stopped did not pan out. Unfortunately, a police badge is also a license to be a thug.

OJ Simpson is in prison not because of having had a gun, but because the legal system believed that he got away with murder years before.  The question is—why is police thug O’Connell still a police officer? Why is he still allowed to legally harass and abuse citizens? When so many in NH have little confidence in the police, and the union has no confidence in its chief, why would the mayor want t give the NHPD a gun that will allow them to shoot many at one time?

I agree with the previous writer that Mayor DeStefano has no interest in cleaning up the NHPD, or invest the type of resources needed to clean up the ganged-up areas of NH. If he did Chief Lewis would have stayed and did just that, but neither the police union, the commissioners, nor the mayor wanted to do what it would take to really clean up the place.

The only time we will see strong action is if the child or close relative of someone with clout—a “significant person” gets killed in NH.  Then they will pull out all the stops to solve that crime. The police might then be forced to put in some real bootstrap ground work the way good police do.  Maybe in doing that they will also bag some of the thugs who regularly plague some NH neighborhoods and in fact, really do some real cleaning up. 

Short of that happening, it is time that the citizens in large numbers take to the street to City Hall and demand meaningful and sustained action.  What we get now is a sick game of political posturing while young black men continue to die in the streets of NH.  Giving the NHPD better and faster guns is NOT the answer to the problems in NH. We need an engaged and committed mayor; we need Chief Limon with the full support of the mayor and the police union; we need caring and committed police officers who live in NH, and we need a purged NHPD. We also need a cooperative citizenry whose trust the NHPD deserves.

posted by: robn on February 2, 2011  5:59pm

Bottom Line on the AR-15 issue… a rifle with a range of 550 yards is unnecessary for rank and file unless an officer is daily trying to take down 100s of people two football fields away. This is a ridiculous militarization of our police force and, once again, an inverted end run on Posse Comitatus.

posted by: WTF on February 2, 2011  7:10pm

The AR-15 is a toy gun for wimps. What we really need at NHPD are the ones with the Blackwater stamp of approval. You can put them on your shoulder, they have a range of 2,000 feet, and can reduce an elephant to two tons of hamburger in a nanosecond. When we get them, and only then, can the citizens of New Haven feel truly safe.

posted by: GC on February 2, 2011  7:46pm

It should be noted that 95 percent of Internal Affair cases are bogus.  Just because an officer has 9 complaints, it does not mean they committed any violations. If the people knew all the facts and circumstance surrounding the cases, they probably would not make these comments.  Officers who do their job have a high rate of IA complaints, because the criminals use it as a tool to get the officers off their back.  I say good job Ofc. O’Connell., It is officers like you that allow us New Haven residents to live in this sinking shit hole.

posted by: Ken on February 2, 2011  8:28pm

What the Cops need is a NATIONAL COP TAKE A WEEK OFF break, all at the same time.  Can you say CHAOS.  You people would not know what to do.  Stop complaining the cops do a great job.

posted by: Nick on February 2, 2011  9:54pm

The IA process is stupid and should get changed immediately. 

But Sanchez can still sue O’Connell if he wants to, and, if the allegations are true, I hope he does.

posted by: nhres on February 2, 2011  10:42pm

Ofcr O’Connell,
Please continue to do your job and do it well. There is a whole faction of us city residents that are thankful that you get these ... off the street.

posted by: Blaze on February 2, 2011  11:29pm

Liberals…enough said!

posted by: copsucker on February 3, 2011  3:29am

It goes to show you the New Haven PD can always handle things anyway they see fit. Bust them in the head, sting with the stun…it is all fun, fun, fun, and Internal Affairs .... ah what a joke they are….they will do absolutely not a thing….

posted by: GC on February 3, 2011  8:25am

To Robn,

It is the responsibility of the PD to protect the citizens. To have a long gun such as the M4 allows officers to do that.  Hopefully they are never used, but at least the are available if needed. 

After reading many of your posts, you have no idea about what is going on. Please ask questions and stop assuming you have a clue.

posted by: Ricky L on February 3, 2011  9:39am

News flash: Almost all departments in CT, including Yale PD, equip all their patrol vehicles with AR-15s. New Haven is simply behind in times. It has been proven all around the U.S. that the AR-15 is an affective weapon and much needed in the horrific situations our citizens have faced in recent times. When you mere sheep are crying while held hostage at gunpoint at your place of employment, you will be wishing the police were better equipped.

posted by: robn on February 3, 2011  9:57am

GC,

The city of New Haven needs trustworthy cops on the pavement, not a paramilitary force. Stop pretending this isn’t just about pork-barrel funding and new toys for the boys. Good cops know better.

posted by: An EastRocker on February 3, 2011  10:03am

Well written and researched article.  Good to see NHI is doing what it does best - good investigative journalism into difficult but vital affairs of the city’s life.

posted by: bjfair on February 3, 2011  10:55am

“mowing people down like hamburger.NHPD recruiter: You have a candidate.

posted by: nhresident on February 3, 2011  11:42am

Officer O’connell thank you for cleaning our streets and thank you for all the good NHPD cops. People need to realize this city is dangerous and these cops in our city risk there lives everyday. No matter what NHPD will be there…. weather cant stop them and nether will you cowards who run away or dont call the police when you see somehting! its time for the citizens to come forward and help NHPD clean up our city!!!!!

posted by: 093 on February 3, 2011  11:58am

Dennis is a great cop that would never beat on someone who was secured in handcuffs and yes half of the IA complaints are bogus. I haven’t not been on the job long but i have never seen anyone get abused for no reason. The people that leave the negative comments are just liberal anti cop citizens who had a bad police experience. Why does an allegation of brutality mean that the police don’t get a patrol rifle that every major town and city uutilizein cases they have a situation where someone has a rifle or automatic weapon. If your a new haven resident and think that not enough violent crimes happen where regular patrol officers need a rifle then you need to visit other neighborhoods and see what type of people are just around the corner. You should want your cops to have as many tools as possible not to harm you but to feel safer when your walking down any street plagued by violence. Things in this city will never change and the only ones to blame is the mayor and citizens that vote for him

posted by: streever on February 3, 2011  2:14pm

I can’t believe that cops—even new recruits—think it is OK that someone who filed a complaint waited over a year to hear back—that IA did no investigation of any sort (at least not one that they are reporting to the public), and that no due process was here.

I don’t expect all police to know the laws and to understand that complaints should never be dismissed immediately, but the sheer number of police who seem unaware flies blows my mind.

posted by: nfjanette on February 3, 2011  2:47pm

I haven’t not been on the job long but i have never seen anyone get abused for no reason. The people that leave the negative comments are just liberal anti cop citizens who had a bad police experience.

Think again.  I’ve historically been on the “right wing” of support for the police.  I recently had a fascinating run-in with one of your brother officers that was standing around doing nothing when he was supposed to be controlling an intersection.  When he woke up enough to start directing traffic, he tried to wave a car into a crowd of people crossing at the crosswalk.  When questioned, he yelled verbal abuse.  Let’s face it: some cops act like arrogant idiots at times and need to be reminded for whom they work.  They make a bad name for the many other good cops.

Why does an allegation of brutality mean that the police don’t get a patrol rifle that every major town and city uutilizein cases they have a situation where someone has a rifle or automatic weapon. If your a new haven resident and think that not enough violent crimes happen where regular patrol officers need a rifle then you need to visit other neighborhoods and see what type of people are just around the corner. You should want your cops to have as many tools as possible not to harm you but to feel safer when your walking down any street plagued by violence.

It has nothing to do with it, really.  What is involved, however, as the chief has mentioned, is the proper training for use of the new weapons, just like proper training with sidearms was required before you were allowed to carry one.  BTW, I hope the department was wise enough to purchase better optics than the iron sights shown in the NHI article.  The last thing we need are wild 5.56x45mm rounds flying around in the city if there is a firefight.

posted by: GC on February 3, 2011  3:42pm

Robn,

I agree with you to a certain extent.  Most officers are hard working people in a difficult position.  Updated equipment is not such a bad thing, if it allows an officer just to save one person.  How many times have you heard, “I can not believe this happened here its such a nice place.”  NH is ranked 19th per capita in the country for violent crimes.  Just maybe it could happen here.  Hope not.  And I think we both agree on that.

posted by: Jay on February 3, 2011  5:16pm

First of all I support Officer O’Connell.  These are a few of the reasons why ignorance exists…

1.  Blame the justice system:  The only justice these days happens in a backyard, dark alley or basement.  Wouldn’t it be nice if your neighborhood burglar or drug dealer finally did some jail time once and for all.  Policing is like fishing.. arrest he bad guy and they are released to the general public within two hours.

2.  IF and I repeat… IF Officer O’Connell crossed the line of force used it is for the better of the public (See #3).  And you can be damn certain that if some crumb broke into anyones home in the middle of the night and an Officer roughed him up a little that Officer would be praised by the victims.

3.  Remember back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s when everybody was polite, got along with each other?... The crime rate was low and people respected police?  Thats because back then there were consequences for peoples actions.  You couldn’t mouth off to a cop or the general public… you would get a slap in the face from the police.  The problem is people are puss*es these days and put them blame on other people (LIKE THE POLICE) not themselves.  I mean what world are we living in when a shooting suspect gets apprehended with THE gun involved in the shooting, gets lumped up a little by the police and the kids parents blame the police and not themselves for being dead beat, drug abusing, absent parent? 

4.  If you weren’t there, you don’t know the details: If we are going to speculate that Officer O’Connell or Officers in general are bullies then let me be as ridiculous.  More than half of the comments regarding this story were posted during normal working hours 9am - 5pm…May I suggest that you are screwing around at work on the internet commenting about this story and are a sh… employee?  Stupid right.  Don’t call the Police when your house is getting broken into and expect a solid cop to say.. “Oh, excuse me mister.. pretty please, will you put your hands behind your back?”. WHATEVER.

posted by: 31yr.res on February 3, 2011  9:47pm

The rifles are for response to active shooters or serious felonies in progress. Remember the shooting in L.A. with the bank robbers fully clad in bullet resistant vests? Responding officers had to go to local gun stores and borrow long guns to combat the robbers. How about Columbine? Va. Tech? Responding officers had assault rifles and no one seemed to care. The police are already armed, whats the big deal with arming them with the rifles? They have a right to go home at the end of the day too. If i’m ever at a scene of an active shooter, I would want the police to come with the best tools possible, even if that means an assault rifle. And one final thing, police departments ARE para-military organizations.

posted by: cartman on February 4, 2011  12:23pm

Give me a break! Does Abel Sanchez have pink eye? Did he cut himself shaving?

posted by: iceman on February 4, 2011  6:08pm

Why did Sanchez wait two years.  If it was really that important to him why wasn’t he asking IA how the investigation was coming along. Why wasn’t he at IA’s door every week or at least once a month.

posted by: go hornets! on February 5, 2011  4:34pm

Alls I know is that O’Connell and Kasperzak applied serious and brutal force to local high school football teams back in the day.  BHS BABY!!

posted by: 093 on February 7, 2011  12:57pm

OK many good comments and it does seem that some residents still have faith in the police department. I did a little research and found out that according to the FBI in 2010 New Haven was 9th in most violent crime and that says that we need all the tools to respond to any condition because sometimes patrol officers don’t have time to wait for swat and other specialized units. I’m obviously an officer and am currently injured apprehending a felon and recovering from surgery. Once i got hurt the city then filed a motion to contest my injury and I had to hire a lawyer. The point is that we risk our life’s either because we enjoy it or cuz we wanna help others. I now realize what veteran officers always say no one cares about you. I realize that the city doesn’t but for the most part I thought the community was and I am realizing that I was greatly mistaken. Its too bad because I met alot of good residents that deserve a safe living environment and without support was is a cop to do