New Haven Independent

posted by: Threefifths on May 11, 2010  5:14pm

Again the police are give a pass.Where are all of the pro police people to demand that this officer should be fired. The chief is showing weakness all ready with this.Look at how Jessica Mayorga interrupted him twice to say the decision was worked out with the union and was in the best interests of the city.He can speak for himself? The question to the chief should have been how are you going to handle this next time it happens on you wacht. My question to the chief is what would you do if police officers do something like this here.

http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/05/11/philly-cop-fakes-shooting-blames-a-black-man/

posted by: Resident of the City on May 11, 2010  5:33pm

He Defers to City Hall, and before he could answers questions posed to HIM mayoral spokesperson Mayorga interrupted. Who is the Chief of Police is he just filling a chair and Johnnie D is running the PD through a PUPPET??...

posted by: Jon Doe on May 11, 2010  5:46pm

(Jessica Mayorga interrupted twice to say the decision was worked out with the union and was in the best interests of the city)

Jason Bandy is a walking lawsuit waiting to happen during his career. The man can’t control himself on a night on the town, he threatened to kill himself, he has an anger problem that requires medication. What happens when he hits the streets and stop taken his meds? Can someone
tell me how this in the best interests of the city

posted by: jake- on May 11, 2010  5:56pm

why did they go outside again for the police chief ? the mayor ( who calls the shots ) should have just put mayorga in that seat- and saved a few dollars. chief lemon isnt going to say boo, unless johnnnyyy gives him the ‘ok’.
...

posted by: Two Thirds on May 11, 2010  5:58pm

Limon, gee not even attempting to make a good show of who runs the Police Department, rolling over so soon ,

posted by: A message from John on May 11, 2010  6:01pm

Only the best are good enough for New Haven

posted by: Clueles Cheif on May 11, 2010  6:13pm

I was at a meeting last week at RossWoodward School. The new Chief ... gave no real answers to any questions that were asked of him. He just keep deferring to Lt. Hoffman or putting the question back to the person who asked it.

He will be a DeStefano puppet! ...

posted by: Lifer on May 11, 2010  7:02pm

I’m astonished this guy is getting a second chance.  Calling in sick when he wasn’t sick was the least of it!  I’m guessing the city is afraid they’ll be sued under the ADA if they don’t let him get help and come back to work.

posted by: cedarhillresident on May 11, 2010  7:06pm

Welcome to New Haven Frank the city where you are not allowed to speak if you are a city emmmppp….

****cedarhillresident cut off by Jessica Mayorga****
She means to say We the people off new haven are happy to have you and welcome you…

***cedarhillresident cuts off Jessica Mayorga***

or you will lose your job…No employees are allowed to speak to the press. As ordered by city hall.

posted by: JB on May 11, 2010  7:11pm

Wait, this guy continues to show anti-social behavior and gets arrested after the Oct incident and he STILL got rehired?  That’s downright crazy.

If he flies off the handle while on the job, expect a lawsuit.  That’s a whole lot of history he’s got (and the dept is taking on that liability legally and ethically).  Crazy.

posted by: Charlie O'Keefe on May 11, 2010  7:27pm

Is this why the city needs 25% more cops than similar size citys. On an average day 25% are out sick being paid from our taxes. Cut the police force to size. Yale has a police force now and they could take on the extra men to look after downtown. They could also pay for them. We all know they have a competent police chief.

posted by: non tech savy on May 11, 2010  8:12pm

Kudos to the cop shop, keep the public informed using technology. The fire department can’t even email from station to station or from station to battalion headquarters. The current peeps at HQ still have us in the dark ages, they’d like to use carrier pigeons if they could.

posted by: j on May 11, 2010  8:58pm

Such ...cronyism makes clear that it is impossible in this “community” to trust in its “policing.”

Please, erode the public trust further. Remember chief Lewis, with all his crazy ideas about accountability and not bending over for the NHP(roletariat)Department?

posted by: scooter on May 11, 2010  9:39pm

... Chief Limon had a chance to send a message to those that abuse the badge and blew it.

posted by: Faye Wilson on May 11, 2010  9:47pm

I’ve been branded a critical thinker, and will take ownership in these instances. 

  Our Mayors’ spokesperson (Jessica Mayorga) stated that the reinstatement of fired Police Officer Jason Bandy is in the BEST INTEREST OF
THE CITY, is totally INCOMPREHENSIBLE.  It is in
fact Bizarre/Grotesque to think of a person charged with protecting the community and to keep law and order in this city, with a rapp sheet such as his. ...  That’s
more scary that’s more scary than walking in a pit-dark alley, alone and unarmed, only to run into a head-buster.

posted by: Embarrassing on May 11, 2010  11:13pm

this article is an embarrassment to the city of NH.  Jessica MAyorga interrupted the Chief of Police twice???  He too will soon pack his bags and leave if this continues.  Chief Lewis wasn’t going to stay around and be a human puppet for the mayor.  He went to Yale where he can be a MAN of the law and not Mr Mayor’s flunky

posted by: V on May 11, 2010  11:47pm

“In the best interests of the city”?

I’d love to see Ms. Mayorga’s definition of city.

It certainly doesn’t seem to mean the citizens and taxpayers of New Haven in this context.  Perhaps it refers to the city government, and those who are employees of the citizens and taxpayers.  It certainly seems to be in the interest of all city workers to not be fired for abusing a position of trust and power. 

[sarcasm] Please raise my taxes some more so I can pay for this man’s ongoing destructive behavior. [\sarcasm]

posted by: Keystone on May 12, 2010  12:09am

Does Chief Limon need to ask permission to go to the bathroom?

posted by: kamb on May 12, 2010  5:05am

This kid-cop gets arrested by his own PD . . .so I’m thinking maybe it was an isolated incident? . . .

but then he gets arrested by East Haven PD . . . . two strikes,. . .

then his mom says he’s a violent kids who needs medication . . . . .

and he gets in an argument with his wife and arrested for disorderly conduct . . .

....then gets a ticket Meriden PD . . . .

HOLY COW! He’s a mess!

I dont blame the kids for trying to get hids job back, I blame KING JOHN DESTEFANO for allowing him to get his job back.

And the new Chief seems like a joke too.

posted by: Jay on May 12, 2010  6:57am

... How can [Chief Limon] let some… city spokesperson talk for him.  Reminds me of Chief OPrtiz ...

posted by: Cant believe this on May 12, 2010  7:58am

This is a joke right? Your gonna give this ... [officer]  a badge and a gun back. After he had been committed to a hospital for evaluation after threatening to kill himself?I hope the city starts putting money away now for the HUGE LAWSUIT thats gonna happen when ... some innocent citizen gets hurt.And I hope Police Union 530, Loius Cavaliere, John DeStefano and Chief Lemin and the City of New HAven are at the top of that lawsuit for recklessly enabling whatever violent acts this guy perpetrates in his illustrious career under their full backing.
    Or howbout when he files for a mental disability a few months or years from now. Explain to the city taxpayers how there gonna pay his pension after 2 years on the force….

posted by: Boristt on May 12, 2010  8:29am

Are you kidding me???The City keeps saying how much sick time the custodians take and wants to get rid of them but then they turn around and let this kid keep his job after he took a sick day and gets arrested and keeps getting arrested SMDH!!!

posted by: Great comments on May 12, 2010  9:01am

great opinions, everyone.  Just too bad our politicians can’t read.  After this ex cop with attitude return to our streets watch out.  And after he… abuse his powers, etc. He’ll blame it on his known comditions (he has many) and at that time Jessica will have nothing to say.  Chief Limon will get his chance to speak w/o being interrupted.

posted by: William Kurtz on May 12, 2010  9:10am

Is it April 1st again? 

I would be very interested in hearing Ms. Mayorga comment publicly on specifically how this action is in the “best interest” of the city.  It’s possible that there’s some nuance or extenuating circumstance that, well, everyone seems to be be missing, but on the face of it, this decision seems incomprehensible. 

On another note, a couple of people have commented on how the ‘captcha’ verification word seems somehow apropos of the story . . . interesting how mine right now is ‘thinking23’.

posted by: Sunday on May 12, 2010  9:36am

Pass practice has determine that officers like these will always repeat their behavior in years to come. Just keep his name under the “Radar”. ...

posted by: hmm on May 12, 2010  10:47am

Not mentioned by anyone is the role of the union here.  It is episodes like this that turn people against unions.  Mayorga made it sound like it was a concession to the union—you would think that most of the police wouldn’t want someone like this on the force.  He makes them look bad and he doesn’t seem like the sort of person you would like working next to you.  It even sounds like he was a jerk to his fellow officers when confronted.  The union seems more concerned with this one bad police officer than the police force as a whole.

posted by: Citizen- on May 12, 2010  11:26am

This is not good with all he has 3 cases going you got to be out of your mind with someone like that back on the force hello the chief should also have a say in this matter.

posted by: cedarhillresident on May 12, 2010  11:55am

NOPE the mayor says JUMP the unions jump! The biggest puppets. All saying ... behind the sceans but in public standing right next to him, and doing what he tells them to do, instead of doing what they should, worry about there workers. They may say working with the mayor helps the union….no it does not. Not when the city is broken and the acts that are being followed are hurting the city more. Time for the union leaders to stand up against him and say ENOUGH!!! ...

posted by: gucci on May 12, 2010  11:56am

BOTTOM LINE IS I KNOW THIS KID PERSONALLY ....... FIRST OFF HE IS A GREAT PERSON WHO HAD ONE BAD NIGHT IN HIS LIFE…... OF COURSE ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO POST COMMENTS ARE PERFECT I FORGOT. SECONDLY HE NEVER TOOK MEDICATION FOR ANGER ISSUES SO THATS JUST ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY THATS TWISTED OH WHAT A SURPRISE.. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE COPS WHO DRINK ON THE JOB AND DO WHAT THIS KID DID ON A DAILY BASIS BUT JUST DIDNT GET CAUGHT. IF YOU THINK FOR A SECOND THIS IS A SOMETHING BAD THAT A COP DID THEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA ON WHAT SOME OF THESE COPS DO THAT ARE NEVER SAID. AND OH MY HE GOT INTO A ARGUMENT WITH HIS MOTHER I BET NO ONE ELSE EVER HAD THAT HAPPEN, AND WHERE DOES THE SUCIDE THING COME IN I KNOWN HIM FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HE’S ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT LAID BACK PEOPLE I’VE EVER MEET WHO WOULD DROP ANYTHING TO HELP OTHERS. IT’S DUSGUSTING THAT ALL YOU HIPPACRITES HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN BAD MOUTH SOMEBODY YOU NEVER EVEN MEET BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE AND BASE YOUR OPINIONS ON A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE….... GET THE FACTS AND KNOW THE PERSON BEFORE YOU JUDGE.

posted by: terrapin on May 12, 2010  12:04pm

Good grief! Did Chief Limon know he was being hired for his lack of spine, or is he just learning this now? I can’t imagine what Bandy has on the mayor that he (the mayor) sends his mouthpiece out to say (with a straight face) that Bandy’s presence on the force is in the best interest of the city. Do they not screen these guys at all before they let them out of the academy, or does Bandy represent who makes the cut down at the NHPD?

posted by: anon on May 12, 2010  12:22pm

Having bad apple Bandy on the NH Police Force will taint the image of the whole police department.  That includes the image of our new Police Chief Frank Limon.  What part of concept do Jessica Mayorga and the mayor NOT understand?

posted by: Moira on May 12, 2010  1:09pm

@ Hmmm: My thoughts exactly. There is a powerful union behind this officer. I’m pretty certain most of the cops on the force have no desire to work with this kid. He’s obviously a loose canon and is a black eye to the “good” men and women of the NHPD.

Limon deserves more respect than Mayorga showed him. I expect nothing less from DeStefano and his staff at this point, though. And I can’t believe that Mayorga said the rehiring was in the best interest of the city. Did she say that with a straight face?

posted by: cedarhillresident on May 12, 2010  1:18pm

the New Chief is from Chicago worked with gangs… there is no way this man is not going home saying what the hell did I get myself into. He has to be thinking this is one messed up city government. I am not shooting him down yet. He just needs to get his land legs. I think he was n shell shocked. Take a stand we need a good and strong chief! Be who you where in your old town and stop worrying about the city gov. if you do a good job the people will back you like we backed Lewis!

As far a the kid who is friends with the Staven kid. Yeah he is a kid and they screw up many his age do. BUT when you take the pledge to be an officer, it is not a free pass ... New Haven has some great officers that care about this city, and some that don’t. This young man knew going in that that part of his life was over. And he still did it. I would not want to be at a danger situation next to him if I was a cop. I would not want a kid like that trying to realate to an inner city kid out of control.  Who’s kid is he that he got this pass?

Limon good luck and welcome to our little world of OMG

posted by: streever on May 12, 2010  1:32pm

gucci, I thought he deserved a 2nd chance after the first incident (after rehabilitation & treatment and a suspension without pay)

However, to see his mother called 911 on him and he was trying to kill himself per his mother, makes me think he had his 2nd chance. Sorry.

—

Chief Limon, PLEASE take a cue from Lewis and stand up for the City and morality. Please do not let Jessica—or the Mayor—interrupt you when you are testifying.

I actually heard DeStefano interrupt Lewis early in his term. Lewis cut DeStefano off, told him not to interrupt him in the future, and then gave his answer as the Chief of Police. Remember, YOU are the Chief, and the Mayor is not. He will try to give a political answer: Do not let him. You are the Chief of Police. You are in charge.

Sorry if I sound pedantic or pushy, but we’ve had Chiefs who the Mayor controlled, and our city was out of control. I do not want to see another round of that. I want to see another Chief Lewis style top-cop who doesn’t cave in & who does what is right, REGARDLESS of the political cost.

posted by: juli on May 12, 2010  1:57pm

i previously thought it was in our best interest to LOWER the number of people in this city with a gun and a bad temper.

thanks for the correction, ms mayorga!

posted by: NH Resident on May 12, 2010  2:02pm

This is incredibly disappointing.

And Gucci, I understand you want to defend your friend, but the facts are that he was arrested for his actions last October, he was arrested in February in East Haven, and he was breaking the law in Meriden in February. Those are facts. I don’t trust this man to police my community if he can’t abide by the very laws he is supposed to enforce.

Additionally, Gucci, I think the sense from most of the comments here is that we condemn this type of behavior from ANY member of our police force. My father was a New Haven cop, so I know that some police officers are guilty of poor behavior as you say, but that doesn’t make it right and it’s certainly no excuse. If you read the comments more carefully, I think you will see from other comments here that New Haven residents are disgusted with this kind of behavior from anyone in our law enforcement, and that when we have the opportunities (though few and far between) to actually hold cops accountable for their deplorable actions, it is mind-boggling to see a decision like this reversed on the flimsy argument that it is in our own best interests. While your friend has made some bad decisions which are, as facts, on public record, again, if you read these comments closely, you will understand that it is the city’s administration that is being judged.

So, I sincerely hope that your friend gets the help and guidance that he clearly needs, but I don’t want him back on the force and I certainly don’t want my taxes to pay for it.

posted by: Gene Debs on May 12, 2010  2:21pm

Suspended for a year for calling in sick when he really wasn’t sick then missing the urinal.  Wow, what a rogue.  I think the punishment is extremely excessive.

posted by: hmm on May 12, 2010  2:42pm

from Gucci….“OF COURSE ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO POST COMMENTS ARE PERFECT I FORGOT.”

Not perfect, but at my worst I never did anything remotely as bad as calling in sick so that I could spend my day getting drunk, urinate on a floor or get belligerent with a cop trying to do his job—and I don’t have a job where I’m expected to enforce the law.  Maybe I’m just too old to appreciate what you youngsters do for fun these days.

As for your assertion that many cops drink on the job (something else I have never done), I can only hope you are wrong about that.  This is an odd way to defend your friend.  If you are correct, then those cops should be fired too.

posted by: Enough on May 12, 2010  3:38pm

Human resources should stop pushing these applicants through despite their background investigator’s not recommending them. S.N you know who you are!!!!

posted by: anon on May 12, 2010  3:56pm

New Haveners,how can we stop this madness?

posted by: Threefifths on May 12, 2010  4:15pm

posted by: anon on May 12, 2010 3:56pm
New Haveners,how can we stop this madness?

Get rid of the crooked two party system that breeds political patronage.

posted by: cedarhillresident on May 12, 2010  4:33pm

ANON
Real Charter Reform and Clean house starting with the mayor. And people have to start screaming from the roof tops. Writing letters to hartford and the GA about the questionable behavior of this goverment! State take over may not be a bad thing at this point in time!

posted by: THE TRUTH on May 12, 2010  6:55pm

Boy it didnt take long for jessica mayorga to completely disrespect chief limon and put him in his place in front of a room full of people. Obviously limon wasnt hired for his independence ...  And by the way whats the over/under on Bad Boy Bandy screwing up on duty and dragging other people down with him.  One year?  Maybe.  Get ready to shell out a few million new haven taxpayers.

posted by: Concerned Citizen on May 12, 2010  8:47pm

This story is frightening in numerous ways. Jason Bandy is a time BOMB!!! Mayorga interrupted the chief twice to state that the decision has been made in the best interest of the City! Who or what makes up the City of New Haven? Why wasn’t the new chief a part of the negotiations? What about what is best for the citizens of New Haven? Is the Mayor of NH a dictator?  Why doesn’t he allow the Chief of Police to function as Chief.

Now we understand why chief Lewis left early, but agree to return as chief at Yale. Most competent dept heads want to be able to do what they were hired to do and not be figure-heads. NH residents need to take to City Hall.  Do NOT allow this insane decision to stand. When Bandy kills someone it will be too late to rescind the decision. This is irresponsible behavior on the part of the mayor

Bandy’s mother reportedly said he has an anger problem that requires medication.(ALARM BELLS)

The Mayor’s office has agreed to have this man carry a loaded gun as a police officer?!!!  Who are the crazy people making this decision? This is sheer insanity.  First, the police union has no legitimate reasons on which to bring a lawsuit against the City. Allowing this man back on the force (where—given his history—he should never have been allowed in the first place)is sheer madness.

The fact that since the incident last Oct he has had several other legal problems is evidence enough that he lacks self-control. What happens if he does not take his anger-management medication?  This is not a case of discriminating against someone who is handicapped. You should NOT be giving a loaded gun to someone who has anger management problems and is dependent on medication. Based on everything we have learned about Jason Bandy, he is a danger to others. He is not suitable to be a police officer.
DO NOT REINSTATE HIM TO THE NH POLICE FORCE.

posted by: Mike on May 12, 2010  8:49pm

Absolute bureaucratic BS. This kid should be out looking for a car wash job by now. Way to go unions, way to make yourselves look even worse.

posted by: The Rub on May 12, 2010  10:08pm

There was a story on this site saying Cavallere was suing the city for $450,000 for overtime payments to recruits in training. Bandy could get about $20,000. Just show me a bathroom and I’ll do whatever it takes.

posted by: bjfair on May 13, 2010  9:34am

Wow!!!!! I’m guessing New Haven residents will complain yet will allow this time bomb to be reinstated. I doubt any other city except New Haven would accept someone on the force with proven serious problems. First of all we would never give a gun, nightstick and taser to a “kid” .  This “kid” and “great person"has 3 criminal proceedings against him (that we know about) an admitted anger problem (whether on meds or not)and past suicidal behavior. I would like to know gucci’s definitin of “great person” and with all our human frailites we are not police officers in charge of enforcing laws on others. Future NHR headlines, “Out of Control officer Kills; Cavaliere and Dearington Justify Actions.We talk about thugs with guns and yet with eyes wide open place one on the police force with taxpayers footing the bill.No wonder Lewis couldn’t wait to leave. He recognized that as chief he would only be a puppet with no real power to do anything that the mayor and the police union didn’t give its stamp of approval. How does your mayor and police union justify this as “best for the city”. ...  This incident has only magnified the level of disrepect for NHPD. It’s a slap in the face of officers who want NHPD to be a respected department. I must say I was not surprised that this occurred. When Lewis announced he was leaving NHPD I suspected the reinstatement of this officer was going to follow. When officers are no better than the criminals they arrest disrepute for the rule of law follows.Shame on the mayor, the union chief, police commissioners and city residents for allowing this tragedy to move forward. Tell me again how we tell the street criminals from the police force criminals. Oh yeah…the uniform. What a joke this city administration!!

posted by: juli on May 13, 2010  9:54am

you can vote on the issue here:

http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/36978

posted by: bruce on May 13, 2010  10:01am

Frightening.

posted by: Anon on May 13, 2010  10:30am

It’s hard to buy the notion that the city of new haven merely fears an arbitrator’s decision. The mayor is more inscrutable on these police issues.

He seems oddly resistant to confronting systemic police problems, making decisions and making public statements enabling, denying, maintaining the status quo, a status quo new haven residents are livid over, not just disgruntled, they are livid over this decision.

In this case, the city, the union, has accomplished an inexcusable course of action that not only does not serve the city’s residents, it is a serious disservice to the officer, a 24 year old really unsuited to police work.

Officers with normal stress tolerances can and often do develop anger and stress issues during their careers because of the demands of the job. To coddle an officer who already has anger issues that are serious enough to medicate is setting him up for failure.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. One shouldn’t demand to hold a job that we all realize, everyone but this young officer realizes, is designed to play heavily to his weaknesses, to exacerbate his existing weaknesses.

I have seen this before where the results were those we all predict here, trouble.

This kid is young and has other options. The residents of New Haven are rightfully angry that they are about to become his probationary, experimental fodder. We think the risk that someone will get hurt is way too high. We’ve had it with the mayor’s contempt for city residents, of which this is one example.

As to unions, New Haven PD union is the poster child of the negative side of unions and its head Cavaliere is a wonder. He seems to have a hypnotic control over the mayor and I am not sure if we have the whole story there.

In the wake of an FBI raid on NHPD, despite statements in court that the arrests the fed did were just the result of a short peek under the hood at NHPD, the mayor approved a union proposal to keep short the time during which a complainant can make an Internal Affairs complaint and adamantly denied he had a bigger problem.

You have to wonder if the mayor wanted revenge against the feds for raiding and trying to put at least a bandaid on New Haven’s problems.

New Haven is a city with incredible potential but this mayor can take it no further and needs to go. He is bullying, vicious, coercive and incredibly lacking in transparency that crosses over into contempt for residents. I’ve never seen the desire of constituents influence any decision he has ever made.

It’s as if his constituents don’t even exist, they are invisible, worthless, of no import whatsoever. For example, when Lt. Billy White was arrested by the FBI, the mayor said there had never been problems with Billy White and not one complaint from citizens. He said, not one complaint, really, honest to god, at a press conference he said that.

The opposite was true. Residents’ complaints against him at times were so severe, so strident that they were front page news and in fact, he had been fired years before, and like this officer, rehired.

You have to wonder how a mayor gets away with this.

posted by: wow... on May 13, 2010  1:16pm

off-topic: I’d love to know what the criteria is for censorship of posts on the NHI site. 

Inconsistent at best, ridiculous at worst.

[Editor’s note: Our policy’s here . If you’d like to be able to post nasty, hateful, libelous, ad hominem, and/or racist comments, you’ll have more success with the New Haven Register website. They don’t pre-screen.]

posted by: RK on May 13, 2010  1:59pm

This is utterly absurd. Other comments have already noted the myriad reasons this young man should NOT be reinstated. The only motivation behind this that I can fathom is pressure from the union.

By the way, does the NHPD really not have anyone better than this guy Avery to be their spokesperson?

posted by: Mister Jones on May 13, 2010  4:28pm

None of us, not the reporter, not friend gucci and not any of the other posters here know the whole story about this young cop.  The facts we do know don’t sound so good, but I’m guessing there is also some truth to gucci’s side of the story.  The folks that know all the details made a decision to rehire.  The Chief stands by the decision.  If this kid was rally as bad as some of these posts make him out to be [“walking time bomb”] I would expect the City to go to the mat to keep him off the force.  Perhaps instead you have a young man humbled by his experiences who will end up a better cop.  And the city doesn’t lose its investment in his training.  Instead of seeing conspiracies around every corner, consider that this matter might actually involve reasonable, committed, responsible people trying to do the right thing.  The easy, and politically expedient, thing to do would be to cut the guy loose and stand by that decision regardless of the facts.  That they are willing to take the political/PR hit by rehiring him suggests there’s more to the story.

posted by: JAK on May 13, 2010  5:45pm

Mister Jones,

This administration has been in business for 17 years.  You would think that if the honchos were any good at judging character and ability, our city would be in great shape.  So just on what basis would the followers of this story give any credit whatsoever to the administration for its judgement on matters like these?

Tell me how our police, fire, or schools stand out from any other city in terms of performance except that they seem to cost a whole lot more than others?  Where is the pride and what is it based on?  We have individual heroes out there I know.  But in recent years, our city services are better known for widespread corruption, race issues in certain departments, and cronyism.

This decision was made by a mayor who panders to labor unions and has disdain for taxpayers. With that kind of leadership you will never cultivate excellence and pride in service because you maintain no standards other than sympathy.

I’d like to know just what regular cops think about letting this guy back on the force.  Are you mad as hell about it?  Or maybe not.

posted by: Enough is Enough on May 13, 2010  6:12pm

I’m not in the habit of posting comments but this story is so incredible I felt compelled to write something. Wait a second – I have a better idea – I’ll just work my a_ _ off to get rid of John “The Leader” DeStefano!

posted by: citizen on May 14, 2010  2:44pm

“They sent Bandy to the hospital for evaluation after he threatened to kill himself. His mother reportedly said he has an anger problem that requires medication.

Court records show that Bandy also has a pending case in Meriden for driving while using a mobile phone on Feb. 11.”

I’m near-speechless with disbelief. New Haven is EFFING stupid and downright NEGLIGENT to re-hire him, under any circumstance, given light of the above, continuing, recent history.  They are going to give this troubled soul a uniform, gun, bullets, a taser, a baton, a cruiser, and the right to detain people?!

Really, people.  THIS is not okay!

P.S. NH, I also can recommend some alcoholic, abusive, psychologically unstable, angry people on medication with no respect for the law who would just love to get a good paying job and the included responsibility and respect that they absolutely don’t deserve!

Imagine this ‘kid’ was not white.  Would he be re-hired anyway?

posted by: James on May 14, 2010  3:24pm

Way to blow all credibility, Chief. I had high hopes for you. You still may do some good. But my hopes and respect for you are greatly diminished.

posted by: jayj on May 14, 2010  6:29pm

this guy got his job back????? bull crap!  Not only did he have the nerve to even seek his job back - the union rallied for him.  bull crap!!

what’s in the best interest of the city are police officers who do not think they are above the law.  this guys urinates on the integrity of all the police officers who respect the uniform that they put on.

posted by: Anon on May 16, 2010  10:27pm

Cedar hill, Lewis, unlike Limon, had a lot of experience as chief of police elsewhere. He was used to speaking for himself. It was probably easy for him to make sure the mayor/mayorga didn’t talk for him. He certainly was firm and very graceful at it. Plus,  Lewis was way better at dealing with the public than the mayor is, so what could city hall really do about it? Nothing. They were in better hands than their own.

Limon was high up in Chicago PD but not the top dog.

So, the mayor may get away with it, and Limon might not even enjoy that part of the job. I predict this isn’t going to change, but you never know.

posted by: Brian Clark on May 17, 2010  4:46pm

New Haven is a bad joke. This kid will get his job back. The cop who is out getting blow jobs keeps his job. Attornny Strollo said in court that an off duty police oficer should be treated like any other citizen, Not 2 months after he said in court that police officers should be held accountable on a higher standard. (I heard him say it myself). The police department mangement its union and lawters are all a disgrace. When they have it out for you, your out of luck. When they have your back your safe no matter what.

posted by: Jeff H. on May 19, 2010  9:33am

Just one more example how unions promote inferior quality and sub standards.

God, I wish I could join a union.  I could goof off all I want, not be accountable for my actions, and somebody will defend me unconditionally.  Yay for UNIONS!

If this kid were at any private non-unionized organization, he’d be fired already.