Another New Haven cop was in court Tuesday facing domestic violence-related charges.
The officer, who was born in 1982 and was graduated from the police academy in 2008, appeared in Judge Denise Markle’s fourth-floor courtroom at the Elm Street courthouse to answer to charges of third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace.
He was accompanied by an attorney, Tim Gunning. Instead of entering a plea, the officer had his case continued three weeks.
New Haven police arrested him on Oct. 15 after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. He was released on $5,000 bond.
The officer did not speak during the brief proceeding. He declined comment to the Independent.
The department has placed him on administrative duty pending the outcome of his criminal case as well as a pending Internal Affairs investigation, said Chief Anthony Campbell. Police declined to release more information about the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.
Four other city cops were arrested on domestic violence-related charges in separate cases during a three-month period earlier this year. One, Ryan Walker, who was originally charged with strangulation, ended up pleading guilty to charges of breach of peace and reckless endangerment. Lt. Rahgue Tennant, at the time the top Dixwell cop, allegedly beat and threatened his wife and kept her hostage for a week. A third officer allegedly kicked his wife in the chest, “slapped her in the face” with both hands, beat and bruised her, as she begged for him to stop hurting her, and had previously beaten her as well. A fourth officer’s charges were nolled. (Read a previous story about those four cases here.)
In the previous article, Chief Campbell said, "I think it's really reflective of what people are going through. Financial struggles, which are some of the issues in many of these instances [and] relationships issues," he said. "A lot of it has to do with the stress of the job."
This is so totally wrong that it has to be addressed. The chief is an educated man, but he is repeating excuses, rather than attacking the root causes of male violence against women.<br /> Men physically and psychologically abuse women because they can!<br /> Women are physically vulnerable and if married, with children, also financially dependent. A woman has to flee her home with her children and go to a shelter to be safe. How many of us could handle that? And, why is it necessary? Does a piece of paper, a restraining order, really stop violence? No. Check out how many women are killed or maimed AFTER a restraining order is issued.<br /> Men who abuse women and children lack emotional control and try to justify their rage, a rage that usually stems from their own family of origin, but in any event is THEIR own problem to work on and solve.<br /> Men, especially police, know and expect their colleagues to cover for them. And they do. <br /> Once men stand with women and call out these bullies, they will either be social outcasts or seek the counseling services they need, but want to avoid.<br /> Only weak men abuse women or children. It is their only way of feeling power and escaping their feelings of inadequacy for a few minutes.