Public Safety Committee To Discuss Several New London Police Union Concerns

The Public Safety Committee will look to address a number of concerns brought forth by the New London Police Union at a Tuesday meeting.

The main topics of the agenda will address the treatment of police dogs as well as staffing levels at the New London Police Department. The committee, chaired by Councilor John Maynard, meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The item related to a police dog in the department refers to the boarding of Bessie, a bloodhound used for tracking and one of three K-9 units with the NLPD. The union website says Bessie, who was assigned to Officer Kyle Gorra, has been boarded at a cost of $30 per day.

Mayor Daryl Finizio announced Thursday that Bessie will be donated to another law enforcement agency, according to The Day.

Although it is not on the agenda, the union has also raised concerns about the care for Buck, one of two dogs trained for patrol, search and rescue, and drug sniffing. Buck is assigned to Officer John Michaud. Finizio also announced Thursday that Buck will be retired.

The union says Buck has rear leg arthritis, but is able to work as long as he takes medication at a cost of $180 every three months. The union website says the city decided to cease these payments after July 1 to save money.

A “Bucks for Buck” fundraiser took place on Sunday at Goldy’s Restaurant to defer the medication costs. Councilor Marie Friess-McSparran sponsored the event along with F&F Distributors. Friess-McSparran posted on the event's Facebook page that enough donations were received to cover Buck's medication for a year.

The meeting will also address the number of police officers at the NLPD. The union contends that the department is understaffed for a city of New London’s size and crime rate, and that morale issues and other problems at the department are causing officers—particularly younger ones—to leave for other communities.

Twelve officers have left the NLPD in the last month, according to the union website.

During budget discussions for the 2013 fiscal year, Mayor Daryl Finizio said he was informed by Chief Margaret Ackley that 10 officers would have to be laid off for the NLPD to meet its budget. Layoffs were avoided following negotiations with the police union.

The budget approved for the NLPD for the 2014 fiscal year is about $900,000 less than the 2013 fiscal year. Chief Margaret Ackley said this could result in 15 layoffs in order to meet the budget, which would remove five officers from each of the department’s three shifts.

Finizio said no layoffs would take place before the halfway point of the fiscal year to determine whether additional savings or revenue can be found in the budget.