nothin McMahon Mum On E. Haven Police Harrassment | New Haven Independent

McMahon Mum On E. Haven Police Harrassment

As she opened a regional campaign headquarters in East Haven, U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon declined to take a stance on a major local issue — the federal probe of racial profiling claims against that town’s police department.

I’m really not familiar with the case,” said the Republican candidate in response to questions about the the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing probe of the East Haven police force. McMahon, who’s seeking the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, made the comment at the grand opening of her new headquarters Wednesday evening at 274 Hemingway Ave.

Click the play arrow to hear her comments.

The feds have been investigating the department for over six months, after a request by a Fair Haven church. Members of a largely Latino church, St. Rose of Lima, asked the Department of Justice to look into allegations that East Haven cops have been targeting Latinos for verbal and physical harassment and even violence.

Those allegations first came to light in March 2009 after St. Rose’s Father James Manship was arrested by East Haven police while documenting alleged police harassment in a convenience store. Manship was later exonerated after it was found that police had lied on Manship’s arrest report.

In April, the Department of Justice released preliminary findings in its investigation, stating that the East Haven police department suffers from, among other things, inadequate oversight of officers and a lack of proper complaint procedures. Those preliminary findings resulted in the removal of East Haven Police Chief Len Gallo.

In May, the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners voted to ask the chief state’s attorney’s office to investigate the arrest of Father Manship.

Thomas MacMillan Photo

At her grand opening party in East Haven on Wednesday, McMahon side-stepped the controversial issue, which has heightened tensions between East Haveners and Latino rights activists. McMahon continued a pattern she established early in her candidacy of declining to take a position on issues. At other times along the campaign trail, handlers have shielded her from talking to the press.

Asked about the appropriateness of the federal investigation into the East Haven police, McMahon said, The federal Department of Justice?”

You know, I’m really not familiar with that case. I’d really like to understand it and know more about it before I opined on it. I would really be speaking out of turn at this point,” she said.

Does she think racial profiling is a problem in East Haven?

That I don’t know,” McMahon said. But I can tell you racial profiling is wrong. It’s just absolutely wrong and we should not do it.”

McMahon declined to answer further questions about the federal probe.

I really want to understand it better,” she said.

McMahon arrived at her new regional headquarters at around 6:30 p.m. She entered a room full of dozens of supporters and some Republican candidates for local offices. McMahon spent some time working the room, including signing WWE paraphernalia clutched in the eager grasp of young professional wrestling fans.

McMahon is the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, the mega-company that pits oiled muscle-men against one another in staged battles.

Addressing the crowded room, McMahon said she has her sights set on the general election, where she expects to face Democrat Attorney General Dick Blumenthal. But she’s not taking the primary for granted, she said. She’ll share the primary ballot with former U.S. Congressman Rob Simmons and financial analyst Peter Schiff.

I just would like to blow it away,” McMahon said of the primary. She called upon her supporters to volunteer to make phone calls. Winning is going to take a real grassroots” effort, she said.

She promised to serve for a maximum of two terms in the Senate. I want to be your voice,” she said. I’m not looking for another career.”

She said she’d chosen to open an office in East Haven because of its geographic placement. East Haven is just such a good location to reach out,” she said. We’ve got New Haven, North Haven and all the other places around.”

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 Steve Evermore

Avatar for Radical Townie

Avatar for anniemouse

Avatar for kait.richmond@gmail.com

Avatar for fred.smoker@comcast.net

Avatar for b.budd@hotmail.com

Avatar for Daniel Casey

Avatar for wolverine

Avatar for georgelinkletter@charter.net

Avatar for sallytamarkin

Avatar for b.budd@hotmail.com

Avatar for Radical Townie

Avatar for jmastrianni

Avatar for The Coun

Avatar for Phil Rao

Avatar for LaRubia

Avatar for chancekell@yahoo.com

Avatar for Champ358