Garzon.
Frustrated by unresponsiveness to ongoing complaints about alleged police misconduct by a New Haven cop, a group of protestors went straight to the top on Friday.
About 20 activists and alleged victims of police abuse appeared Friday afternoon in the mayor’s office, where they delivered a letter calling for the resignation of Officer Dennis O’Connell. The mayor’s receptionist promised they would have a response by Monday.
The delivery followed a rally on the steps of City Hall, where the protestors spoke out against police abuse, amid chants of “No justice, no peace!”
Protestors toted signs and photos of alleged abuse victims.
It was the latest in ongoing demonstrations calling for the termination of Officer O’Connell, who’s accused of serial physical abuse of arrestees. He’s been the subject of nine Internal Affairs investigations and has been exonerated in all but one.
Police Chief Frank Limon was unavailable for comment.
Mayor John DeStefano later said he’s not familiar with Officer O’Connell or the cases against him. “I’m not aware of any of the specifics of this individual,”
“I will make an inquiry with the chief of police.” and decide how to proceed from there, DeStefano said. “I have every confidence in the chief of police’s ability to manage his department.” He said if he didn’t have that confidence, “the chief wouldn’t be there.”
Activists distributed flyers with O’Connell’s picture to passersby.
“We’re here to denounce the use of excessive force,” Alvaro Garzon announced on the steps of City Hall at noon on Friday. Garzon has a complaint pending against O’Connell; he claims O’Connell tased and choked him while handcuffed. He spoke through a megaphone to kick off the ceremony. His comments were translated from Spanish by activist Megan Fountain.
O’Connell must resign, he said. “We will not be silent.”
Powell.
The letter to DeStefano was read aloud by activist Leon Powell.
“While on the the job, Officer O’Connell has left a trail of carnage and destruction,” he said. Protestors have met with Chief Limon and held three demonstrations at the police department, with no results, the letter states. “As these concerns continue unaddressed, fear grows in our streets about an unaccountable police force,” the letter states.
The epistle concludes with a request for a meeting, fuller investigation of brutality complaints, and the removal of Officer O’Connell.
Several people spoke about alleged incidents of police abuse in New Haven and in Hamden.
Fair.
“We cannot tolerate having these thugs with badges on our streets,” said Barbara Fair, head of My Brother’s Keeper. Their job is “to serve and protect, not to brutalize. … We are paying for these officers to come into our community and protect and serve.”
After some more chanting, the group headed inside and upstairs to the mayor’s office, where they were told they had just missed the mayor.
You’ve got mail.
That’s the way it always seems to be when protestors drop by, said Fair. “We get a little suspect.”
The protestors asked if they could set up an appointment.
Lemley.
“I’ll give this to the mayor and I’m sure you’ll hear from us,” said Rosemarie Lemley, the mayor’s secretary. She said they could expect a response by Monday.
Back outside City Hall, Fountain said the group will be expecting a response from the mayor after the weekend.
9 IA investigations and the mayor has no clue who this officer is? really?