Politics & Government

UPDATED: Officer Involved In Shooting Incident Fired

Mayor Daryl Finizio says internal review of August shooting determines unauthorized use of deadly force

Mayor Daryl Finizio has fired a police officer who opened fire on a man in a stolen truck last year.

Finizio announced that Thomas Northup, who had been with the for three and a half years prior to the incident, has been terminated for unauthorized use of force and unauthorized use of deadly force.

The , following a report that a delivery truck had been stolen from a liquor store on Montauk Ave. Northup was taking a complaint at on Bank Street when he saw the truck attempt a turn onto Jefferson Ave. and flip onto its side.

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Several witnesses said Northup ordered the driver, , to show his hands. Northup fired at Cunningham with his service weapon after Cunningham failed to comply with the order. Cunningham was taken to and later to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

The shooting was the second one involving police officers last year. Three police officers , who was armed with a BB pistol, following a report of a shooting on Ocean Ave. An investigation by the Connecticut State Police determined that Kenny was trying to commit suicide and that the officers were . Kenny survived the shooting.

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Lt. Paul Vance, public information officer for the Connecticut State Police, said State Police investigators have concluded their inquiry into the shooting and have turned the matter over to the State's Attorney's Office for review.

Finizio said an internal review of the incident determined that violated the Cunningham was unarmed at the time of the shooting and that Northup violated the general orders for use of force and use of deadly force.

"The unauthorized use of deadly force against an unarmed suspect can not, and will not, be tolerated in the New London Police Department," said Finizio.

Cunningham has against Northup and the city, charging negligent use of force and saying he was partially paralyzed.

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