nothin Rookie Cop Gets A Second Chance | New Haven Independent

Rookie Cop Gets A Second Chance

A police recruit convinced the Board of Police Commissioners to let him graduate with his class this week, even though Interim Police Chief Anthony Campbell sought to fire him for failing too many tests.

In a unique ruling at their regular meeting Tuesday night at police headquarters, the commissioners voted unanimously to overrule Campbell’s recommendation, so that Recruit Diamond Dickerson will graduate with his class at ceremonies scheduled to take place at Co-Op Arts and Humanities High School on Friday at 6 p.m.

Dickerson, 27 and a New Haven resident who attended local schools, is in his last week of training at the police academy. While at the academy Dickerson has encountered academic difficulties, according to Marshall Segar, the police union attorney representing him.

Of the dozens of tests, academic, athletic, and skills-based, that a recruit undergoes, the police training handbook allows for failure and reexamination in up to five of them.

But not the sixth.

After Dickerson failed his sixth — he hit a cone in the backing portion” of the pursuit and defensive driving skills test — Campbell, according to the recruit handbook, was compelled to call for his dismissal.

Commissioners Greg Smith and Kevin Diaz.

With dozens of exams as part of recruits’ rigorous training, failure of a test is not uncommon. It is permitted as long as the recruit takes a re-test and passes with a minimum score of 80. Dickerson has re-tested and passed the previous five.

The academy handbook mandates that in order to maintain standards the department must attach each failure” the recruit’s record, even after retesting, and the sixth failure becomes grounds for dismissal.

Thus Tuesday night’s hearing.

Before the vote, an impassioned, 90-minute back-and-forth took place between commissioners and police brass on the wisdom of each failure” still following a recruit.

If you fail a test and you make it up, and it’s still considered a fail, what’s the point?” asked Commissioner Greg Smith.

If we don’t have standards, no one takes it seriously,” responded Assistant Chief Luiz Casanova, who oversees the academy and training. Mr. Dickerson was given a lot of latitude. We want Recruit Dickerson to get to the finish line. We went above and beyond for this gentleman. [But] we have to have a bright line.”

Luiz Casanova and Anthony Campbell at hearing.

While dismissing a police recruit this close to graduation is not unprecedented, previous instances have usually been for a failure in conduct, behavior, or even not passing a physical test, said Campbell.

He called this situation unique. This is not about suitability or integrity, as in past cases. As a person, Dickerson is a fine upstanding member of the community. He’s a good man. [But] his graduation would seriously damage the standards.”

In his motion for opposition, attorney Segar stated, The union’s position in this matter is not one of condemnation or criticism of the city, the police department or the police academy but rather an impassioned plea that Police Recruit Diamond Dickerson is worthy of retention and will be a productive member of the NHPD in the months and years to come.”

He also made a technical argument: Since Dickerson had not yet been given the opportunity to take a re-test of the pursuit and defensive driving skills, the alleged failure to meet the training standard is premature and thus not ready for review by the” Board of Police Commissioners.

The commissioners were as interested in Dickerson’s character as in the the handbook’s standards, and asked the recruit what advice he would give someone starting the training.

Don’t be discouraged, bond with the people in the academy, work hard, stay focussed, and try to sleep,” Dickerson said. He remained calm and composed during the hearing. He acknowledged his shortcomings. This is my community,” he concluded. I deserve to be here.”

In the end, what also carried the day for Dickerson was that he passed his final exam two weeks ago with an 87.

Commissioner Evelise Ribeiro said she was disinclined to vote for termination unless Dickerson’s failure was more egregious.”

She asked if technically that success on the final negated previous failures.

It’s just one more test,” replied Campbell.

The final exam counts [should count] a lot more than a test. It’s kind of a tipping point,” argued Commissioner Donald Walker.

This seems like a unique situation,” said Commissioner Kevin Diaz. He has it in his heart to be an officer.”

After the unanimous vote not to recommend dismissal, Dickerson declined comment. He is under academy restraints, said Segar.

The attorney praised the result and said he appreciated the degree of attention and scrutiny the board gave to the case.”

Casanova said that while he remains concerned about potential erosion of academy standards, the hearing’s result means that he is pleased to be bringing 100 percent of the class’s initial recruits to graduation.

Campbell termed the proceeding fair.”

The discussion highlighted the need to re-evaluate standards and potentially to revise the handbook,” he said. Do you really want to dismiss somebody when they hit a cone?”

Tags:

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

Avatar for Patricia Kanae

Avatar for Samuel T. Ross-Lee

Avatar for Scorpio1117

Avatar for eliantonio

Avatar for MrHinkyDink

Avatar for Sincerity

Avatar for THREEFIFTHS

Avatar for HIGC

Avatar for Wine fest

Avatar for BeaverHillTrill

Avatar for Scorpio1117

Avatar for nib1

Avatar for William Kurtz

Avatar for 32knot

Avatar for JohnDVelleca

Avatar for Ozzie611