East Haven Vine

Is Maturo Serious About Being East Haven's Mayor?

2012-03-01T19:49:00.003-05:00

It is very seldom that I ever agree with East Haven Democratic Town Chairman Gene Ruocco but he is 100% correct that Joe Maturo belongs right here in East Haven not in Florida. The Town of East Haven has several crises’ ongoing, many caused by Gene Ruocco’s very own people on the Board of Police Commissioners, Board of Finance and various other boards. The thing that concerns me most is that it seems that Joe Maturo just doesn’t get it. So let me try and help by injecting some business reality, some practical common sense and intelligence.

Joe, are you there? Are you listening? You and your Administration are under constant watch, not just by your opponents but possibly by the United States Government. Do you really think after your infamous comment it is wise that you even think about leaving Town on a personal vacation? Today your department heads are handing in their financial budgets for 2012-13 after you promised a 17% tax roll back in property taxes. You just had a march calling for your resignation after you told the Republican Town Committee that the real purpose of the march was to bring unity to the Latinos. You have the media just chomping at the bit to catch you doing the slightest thing wrong and the Town of East Haven is the subject of a newspaper article almost every single day.

Now after being a leader in business for the past 20 years myself I can say what Joe Maturo is experiencing is a crisis. In a crisis the leader does not walk away from the post especially since 50% of the crisis has been self-inflicted. You stay at your post, you work your tail off to fix the problems or you walk away admitting that it got the best of you and it’s time for someone else to take over. Joe, are you there? Are you listening? Call me what you want, (the last East Haven Republican Town Committee meeting I was referred to as a “so called Republican” ) for calling for Joe Maturo’s resignation but I call it as I see it and what I see is what I hope many are seeing, a man at the helm who just doesn’t get it. To answer the question about my affiliation, I am a proud Republican but I am not a Joe Maturo Republican, whatever that really is.

Joe Maturo must get serious and buckle down and work his butt off to deliver on the promises of fixing the many problems in this Town. Taking off to Florida which he did for over 10 weeks in his last term sends the wrong message to the taxpayers of the Town of East Haven. Joe Maturo needs to learn about TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY and not a couple of feel good pictures and sound bites. He defeated April Capone which was definitely a good thing in many ways but it was him and his lack of work ethic that allowed her star rise in the first place. Like the Bruce Springsteen song, “Trapped” it says a lot about the people of East Haven that just can’t win with either side. When will the people of East Haven finally get what we deserve and have a decent honest government that works for us and not them? The only thing that is acceptable with Joe Maturo in Florida is if he stays there and sends us notice that he’s not coming home.

As George Steinbrenner would say...."Lead, Follow or Get the Hell Out of the Way.:"

A Little Justice Served But Not Enough For All The Damage Done By The East Haven Board of Police Commissioners

2012-02-29T20:57:00.000-05:00

Last night during the first meeting of the newly appointed East Haven Board of Police Commissioners everyone was wondering what the post Fred Brow and James Krebs era would be like under the new Chairman Joseph Civitello and surprisingly it went off without any controversy. However, what I was surprised about is the appointment of Carl Perez as the Vice Chairman of the Board after all of the allegations were floating around Town about his pending arrest for threatening a minor at East Haven High School.

Mr. Perez serves as the East Haven High School In-School suspension officer and has come under fire for threatening a 14 year-old child while serving in a position overseeing our men and women who uphold the law. Mr. Perez is also a retired Connecticut Corrections Officer and has dealt with many prisoners who have been held for violent crimes and maybe even murderers. Therefore, it comes as a very big disappointment that person with his background would put the Town of East Haven back in the negative spotlight by his own conduct in addition to potential legal action. There is no doubt by Mr. Perez’s alleged actions as a Town Employee and his service on the very board that is supposed to uphold the law should resign immediately from the East Haven Board of Police Commission.

If Mr. Perez resigns from his position it would allow Mayor Joseph Maturo to fill the spot with a person, either Democrat or Republican, that would give Maturo the majority and control of the Board. Although I do not support Mayor Joseph Maturo, I know that replacing Perez would completely end the disastrous term of Fred Brow and James Krebs as well as the policies of the Capone Administration that declared war on the East Haven Police Department.

Lastly, with this Perez situation I wonder what the Department of Justice thinks of this latest turn of events? After-all the Department of Justice made it very clear that intimidation and violence would not be tolerated after they swooped in and made the arrest of our four Police Officers. The DOJ said they had to take action because those officers were in a position to continue to harass and intimidate the very population they served. Well one might think the same of Mr. Perez. Maybe the Department of Justice should begin to investigate Mr. Perez and his interactions of the student population at East Haven High School. How many students are involved? Are there any civil rights violations? Are there any acts of intimidation, maybe even racial profiling too? After-all, who other than the DOJ should investigate Mr. Perez and his actions? Of course I say this all with tongue and cheek and in all seriousness how could the Department of Justice take anyone of these self-righteous clowns that served under Fred Brow and James Krebs seriously? How could they even think they are a credible source of information or even reliable witnesses when certain members have questions of their own character? Each one of them served knowing that the public did not support what they were doing. Fred Brow publicly denied he called the Department of Justice, when the States Attorney’s Office said there was no case against Officer Cari and this blog proved he lied by showing you the truth with the actual documents. It was discovered that James Krebs failed to pay property taxes to the Town of East Haven for years on vehicles he owns and he held a seat on a board that was supposed to uphold the law. Now the latest disgrace to hit this board and one that actually ended up in an arrest! Is Perez going to blame Police Union intimidation, The East Haven Vine or whomever for this being reported? Don’t be surprised if he does but it will never hide the fact that Mr. Perez or any of his former board members can ever paralyze the truth!

Mr. Perez should do the right thing for the Town of East Haven and resign his position and let a little justice be served along with some sweet karma.

Is Erica Berg and the Former Capone Administration Kidding Us or What?

2012-02-19T19:25:00.000-05:00

If you really want to know the entire truth about what happened down on the beach that summer day in July 2009 you have to know that it didn’t start that day, it started back in 2006. The whole concept of Beach Parking started as a campaign idea to wedge open the Republican strong hold in the 2^nd District. At the time Democrats were losing 2 to 1 in every election in the district and April Capone and her gang figured that if the won the district it would be the biggest prize in the election for Mayor. It was a good strategy because it worked.

I had warned Mayor Joe Maturo and Art DeSorbo on several occasions to watch out because April was unlike any other opponent they faced. She had a knack of getting under your skin and to push it to the next level. As Chairman of the Subcommittee for Beach Parking, April openly challenged me when I asked her to produce “the hundreds” of letters she received regarding residents complaining. I had to use threats of court orders and finally when I received the “6 or 7 letters”, all from the same person, I knew that we were dealing with a deceptive person. My political instinct kicked in and I wanted to call a press conference to call her out on what she was doing but I was told by the Administration. “Danny come on she’s a nobody, please don’t make a big stink about her, ignore it.” No one would listen.

Then the infamous Candlelight by the Sea debate came and when I folded to political pressure I knew my time serving was done. I made a big mistake supporting that cause for what I was told was going to be for the betterment of the Town. If I could take back one vote it would be that. In November 2007 the unthinkable happened Joe Maturo was defeated and the 2^nd District Republicans were swept out of office. April Capone Almon had done the unthinkable and we all knew that life at the beach would never be the same as well as the Town.

When I did not run for re-election Officer Mike Sorbo stepped in my place to run. Unfortunately, he was not successful in retaining the seat but after the debacle of the Candlelight, I don’t any Republican would have won. The summer of 2008 we received our first parking passes with our tax bill and were told to place them on our cars. There was no plan, there was no discussion and as usual with anything that came out of the Capone Administration it was a disaster from day one. People who didn’t have the pass were given tickets and then they began to park on the streets near the beach. Our Community Police Officer was converted from Patrol of the Beach to writing parking tickets in the Beach Parking Lot. It was a big waste of time and a waste of resources, all for an idea that was just plain stupid from the inception. In its first year the beach parking pass did not cause any major problems until the Splash Park was constructed.

In July 2009, word got out that East Haven had built a Splash Pad and it became a popular destination for the entire Greater New Haven Area. We had hardly any infrastructure to handle what we already had and adding the Splash Pad in addition to the Little League and Beach was just not a good idea. Do you think April knows she screwed up? You bet. Do you think she was getting pressure from the residents about the horrid parking situation at the beach? You bet. So what better way for someone to cover up their mistake but to BULLY her position and straighten out Officer Mike because he was writing tickets and towing cars? She assumed he was doing it for political reasons. As I always say only guilty people do the things they do! Now I can understand the Mayor going because she was getting pressure but she should have called the Chief instead. But why would Erica Berg even go near the place? Her job was to receive calls and type emails in the Mayor’s Office not to enforce policy or the law. Erica Berg had no business being there and instead of suing the Town of East Haven she should sue April Capone for putting her in that position to begin with. April Capone’s pure lack of judgment placed Berg in this position along with her verbal tirade of Officer Sorbo. So who started it? It looks to me as Officer Sorbo was dealing with cars blocking the parking lot entrance and a potentially dangerous situation where cars were attempting to drive through the play-scape area to exit the area. Who’s responsible? April Capone and Erica Berg. Neither of them had a right under the law to interfere with a lawful order of a police officer.

I find it ironic that in this case the Department of Justice hasn’t weighed in on it yet. But because Sgt. John Miller is involved, I wonder how the DOJ feels about the lack of following the chain of command from the Mayor’s Office? After all the DOJ said that Sgt. Miller skipped the chain of command and that was one of the reasons why he was indicted and called a “bully with a badge” In the organizational chart of the Town of East Haven the Chief of Police reports directly to the Mayor. The Police Officers in the Town report directly to the Chief and the Supervisory staff of the Department. NOT THE MAYOR. So did the Mayor April misuse her authority to POLITICALLY BULLY and INTIMIDATE a politically defeated candidate, Officer Sorbo? Did the Mayor use her position to usurp the Chief and give direction to unlawfully return vehicles that were legally towed? Why did she do that? Were these political friends? Where, oh where, is the Department of Justice in this case? Two wrongs don’t make it right and as I reported in my previous blogs I believe there was Political Profiling happening in East Haven. Isn’t that a crime? Should April Capone be indicted for being a Political Bully? Where is the Special Grand Jury Investigation?

Regardless Erica Berg and April Capone got exactly what was coming to them. When a Police Officer tells you to stop, you stop regardless. When a Police Officer tells you to disperse you disperse. If you don’t like the actions of the Police Officer you file a complaint, not make a public disturbance. April Capone and Erica Berg were lucky I wasn’t the officer on duty. Officer Mike Sorbo showed considerable restraint by not arresting them on the spot, I would have cuffed and stuffed them right there and then. The bottom line is this is more of the same circus atmosphere that April Capone and the rest of the Democrats want to play. These people are very sick to put this town through this and for what the title of Mayor and the Power of being the party boss? Both sides better wake up soon because before you know it the Town of East Haven will be placed in receivership and it’s both parties fault.

As for Ms. Berg’s claim of being fearful of coming to East Haven or not being able to go to a bar without having a fight. It takes two to tango Ms. Berg. A fight won’t ensue if you’re not looking for one and maybe at the age of 34 it’s time to grow up and be held to account for your actions and stop hanging out in bars. You made the decision to go to the beach. You made the decision to participate with interfering with an officer and just in case you forget the charges were only dropped after Mayor Capone had to apologize for her actions. Apologizing is admission that you’ve done wrong. Here are some words to live by, taught by Officer Mike to the 5^th Graders of East Haven. “Guilt by Association” and “Consequences” Think about it before you yourself drag yourself down the slippery slope of eternal embarrassment.

Beginning Evidence in the US vs. EHPD Is Weak At Best

2012-02-16T07:22:00.000-05:00

So the United States Government’s beginning argument to keep Officer Jason Zullo and Officer Dennis Spaulding out of East Haven is based on the transcripts written below and a statement by Officer Zullo? Is the United States Attorney kidding us or what? While these statements are not the most politically correct words they are certainly nowhere near the level that would constitute racial profiling and or intimidation of Latinos. So lets look at what these statements could mean?

· 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2009, if Zullo had sprayed a substance referred to as “oc” in Spaulding’s car, Zullo allegedly responded, “NAH, THAT’S ALL THE MEXICANS U GET IN THE BACKSEAT!”

What car are they referring too? Could it be Spaulding’s personal car? Police Car? What is the relevance? Maybe they are talking about Mexican take-out food? Maybe they are talking about Mexican friends they have? At best, if they are using Town owned computers to transmit these conversations they could receive a written warning and or maybe suspension. However, where is the policy and procedure that governs this type of computer use? Does this constitute the violation of someone’s civil rights, which by the way is very questionable?

· On Feb. 8, 2009, Zullo allegedly reported to Spaulding that La Bamba’s, an Ecuadorean-owned bar on Main Street “only has 5 cars.”
“Thats 5 cars to (sic) many!!” Spaulding responded

Feb 8,^,2009 was a Sunday. What time of day was this taking place at? Was it after 2am when the bars are supposed to be closed? What do the 911 records show since LaBambas has been opened? How many calls have made to the Police over the years about LaBambas? Has LaBambas ever had its liquor license suspended? Certainly these statements mean absolutely nothing without knowing the details! But maybe we can find out why there was only 5 cars…..Here is the weather statement for that day. It was raining and maybe snowed. Maybe they stayed home because of the weather!

http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/CT/East%20Haven/2009-02-08

· On Feb. 25, 2009, Spaulding allegedly asked Zullo, “Why is (Barra’s, another Latino-owned Main Street bar) empty???”
“havnt been that way yet.....prob cuz of you,” Zullo allegedly responded.

February 25, 2009 was a Wednesday. Again what time of day did this take place at? What does the statement imply? Maybe Wednesday was not a busy day. Maybe Barra’s doesn’t have a happy hump day or half price beers? Let’s take out the detective Hats and check the weather. Again it was raining and maybe snowed. Maybe no one went there because of the weather! Maybe the statement meant nothing at all but was an observation of good police work.

http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/CT/East%20Haven/2009-02-25

· Then on Feb. 28, 2009, Zullo informed Spaulding, “That party is at labambas tonight.”
“No one there yet!” Spaulding responded. “You run your guy through ICE?”

Here’s the case cracker. I mean Vincent Gambini would be so proud! It was the third time these two officers worked during rain & snow!!! All three damning communications were held in February of 2009. What else do we need to prove that they are in collusion and conspiring to profile Latinos? Maybe Labamba needs a marketing plan to effective put fannies in the seats?

Here’s the proof!

http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/CT/East%20Haven/2009-02-28

All of these statements mean absolutely nothing and seem to be reaching to point out what could be the thought of racial profiling. Again these statements went before the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury has a prosecuting attorney that asks questions of witnesses looking for indictments and looking for any excuse to allow the case to move towards an arrest.

If these statements from the car computers are going to be introduced as key statements and proof that these two officers were profiling then we are going have a very short case resulting in an acquittal if the charges.

In addition, is this information that US Attorney is relying on to hold Zullo to the Yadanny Garcia case? Where he said that Officer Zullo used his Taser gun on him? If you recall the case, Mr. Garcia avoided a DUI Checkpoint, fled his car and ran into the bushes next to Michaels Cafe and when confronted to be placed into custody, he resisted arrest. The four accused officers, including Zullo, were accused of using excessive force and then Garcia dropped the case because he lied to the Department of Motor Vehicles, unraveling his lawsuit. Do you see why the civil case is so important to the Defense of the four officers?

These four officers are not the criminals the United States Government is making them out to be and by holding them to a standard of high bonds, frozen assets and restrictions that are given to hardcore repeated criminals it reeks of harsh retaliation. These men are sworn officers, not flight risks or a danger to the community. They certainly know the consequences if they were to re-engage the community that is accusing them and if they did do that it would be monumentally stupid. There needs to a be fair level playing field where our officers are not convicted of crime even before the trial starts. Like I have said for a long time, there are two sides to every story and somewhere in the equation there is the truth. The only way justice will be served is by everyone having a level head, being fair to all parties involved and to stop the drama that is being played out in the media.

Lastly, what I and many others are struggling to understand is the application of the 14^th Amendment in this case especially to those whose reside here illegally. The 14^th Amendment is clearly written as provided in Section 1

Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

How do these provisions apply to the some of these defendants if they are not citizens? Why is a judge allowing a Constitutional Right to people who have not naturalized or became a citizen to the United States?

I’m not saying that visitors, tourists or others shouldn’t have protections but to use the provisions that I rely on and pay taxes for is not only an insult but when it’s used as a weapon in the detention of our four officers it becomes deplorable. If anything it seems that the last section of section 1 in the 14^th Amendment applies to Sgt. Miller, Officer Zullo, Officer Spaulding and Officer Cari where the State shall not deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protections of the laws.

Who is looking out for these Officers and their families Constitutional Rights? It’s certainly not the US Attorney’s Office.

Claims of Beatings While Handcuffed and The Misconception That The Prisoner Is No Longer A Threat To An Officer.

2012-02-13T00:10:00.000-05:00

So the DOJ and Feds are claiming that while handcuffed prisoners were given beatings and were assaulted. Of course the liberal media hears that and the East Haven Police Department becomes bullies with badges. So let me pose this question to my readers. Do you think once a prisoner is handcuffed that they are no longer a threat? Well if you don’t think so take a look at these video clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF5sBM5tcFo&feature=fvst

What about when a prisoner is combative and spits bloody saliva in your face like in this video. Does an officer have to take home Hepatitis B or anyother types of diseases because some person can't give the respect due?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnRggJfm0U

Or how about when a criminal resists arrest like in this video. Who's at fault? Please don't tell me the cop shouldn't have pulled him over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLCUXs8q_Bo

If you ever think that Police/Fire and EMS work is like watching Andy Griffith or watching a scene from Emergency you are sadly mistaken. In reality it’s more like watching COPS or Rescue 911. So when the Feds question a field police officer what does the FBI really know about Police Work? I don’t see the FBI patrolling the streets or protecting the community like our front line Police Officers do. In addition, our DA’s or State Attorney’s work case load after case load dealing with hardened criminals while the FBI and the US Attorney’s get to pick and choose what they want. Has the DOJ looked at the conviction records of Officer Spaulding or Zullo? When was the last time a New Haven Field Officer from the FBI had to fire his weapon like Sgt. John Miller did to protect a fellow officer or even received a bullet like Officer David Cari did? The answer is either it hasn’t happened or I can’t find any reference to it on the internet.

The facts remain that these officers who were targets of the DOJ probe and the FEDS are not the villainous criminals they are portrayed as. In fact to many of us they are the only line of defense in a border war that is occurring 2500 miles away. These officers also put their lives on the line every single day and it doesn’t matter what city, town or village they are from crimes can happen anywhere at any time and the DOJ and the US Attorney’s Office instead of playing politics should take the time to get to know what is truly happening in the streets of America.

Not soon enough the case that is coming next January will start to reveal the situations of these “alleged beatings” but one thing really still bothers me. If these beating took place in the Town of East Haven and these people were beaten the way they told the FEDS then wouldn’t it be as simple to contact the East Haven Fire Department? The EHFD would be the first responders to any medical situation in the Town and would be witness to these “alleged beatings”. Being a member of the EHFD volunteer force I have never once heard any of our volunteers or Medics ever say they saw or witnessed the aftermath of these “alleged beatings”. In addition, what about the booking photographs? Shouldn’t they show evidence of the beatings?

Do you know what I think is going on? I think that the DOJ listened to a Priest, a bunch of illegals, a few attorneys and a few politicians from the Town of East Haven that were hell bent on getting rid of the Chief of Police. The Town Attorney and Mayor April make statements like “I want a pint of his blood.” Paul Hongo has all this knowledge. Police Commissioners are telling the general public that cops will be led out of the Police Station in cuffs and to date every one of these predictions have all come true, well except for the Chief’s pint of blood. Just sit back a get the panoramic view and doesn’t it seem like it’s all about politics?

There isn’t one video produced, one eye witness account produced to date, that gives just cause to why our four Police Officers are under house arrest. Trusting the Federal Government with Obama and his henchman Eric Holder at the helm is like trusting the Captain of the Titanic to get me to New York safely. I just won’t buy it.

The East Haven Vine has been recognized as The Best Local Blog in Connecticut! Click on link below!

http://www.stateside.com/government-affairs-consulting-best-local-politics-blogs.php

Some Serious Questions surround the indictments of East Haven's Four Officers and Those who have perjured themselves

2012-02-12T15:30:00.001-05:00

I have one question that might set off a fire storm of more questions. Did Mr. Yadanny Garcia testify before the Grand Jury in Bridgeport and if he did, why is he not facing perjury charges for lying before the Grand Jury? Even if he did not testify before the Grand Jury why is he not now being charged with perjury for what I call “piling on the rabbit syndrome?” After all, it’s clear that Mr. Garcia is nothing but a liar and made statements so he could avoid prosecution.

Mr. Garcia made charges that he was beaten, tased and was verbally assaulted by one of the four officers, Jason Zullo who sits home today under house arrest and is under a world of more accusations. Three other officers Michael Sorbo, Lt. Lennon and Frank Montagna all have been dropped from his lawsuit and accusations but Jason Zullo still is not cleared? You have to ask yourself WHY? What do the Feds and the Yale Law Students know that we don’t know? Why is Officer Jason Zullo still being held to account for a false claim?

U.S. Attorney Fein and his cohorts deemed the four accused officers in the January indictment as “bullies with badges” what a complete joke that is. Just look at what the Federal Government has done to the Town of East Haven in lieu of knowing that the Garcia case was falling apart just before its very own eyes. Where is the remedy for the residents of this Town that have to bear the burden of words of “cancerous” cops without a single piece of evidence to support those charges? There is definitely a motive to this entire operation behind East Haven and as every day passes it seems to be more and more politically motivated.

Just look at what Judge Janet Arterton did with the Civil Trial vs. the Criminal trial. If this Judge was truly looking for the truth in this entire case she would have looked at the testimony of several of the key witnesses in the Civil Case and said there is clearly a problem here in addition to Garcia’s claims. She did not and US Attorney Fein got his way or better yet, a cleared road to prosecute. Where is the justice in a case which hasn’t yet been heard?

The four officers that were indicted sit home under house arrest with every piece of their assets tied up, the reason? Well in order for the United States Government to try its case and win the case they need every advantage and the additional “every resource” available, aka your tax dollars. This strategy hampers the defendant from getting the best legal defense and casts a dark cloud and psychological advantage for the US Government. That is why it is important to understand why the Signal 4 Defense Fund has been set up and monies are being collected across the country for these officers. In addition, two of the men are forbidden to enter the Town of East Haven because the judge and the Prosecution feel they would be a threat to the community. That statement is simply outrageous. We have illegal aliens walking our streets, driving unregistered and unlicensed and that’s ok. We have a Mayor in the City of New Haven that is openly breaking Federal Law and a Priest in New Haven that openly admits to harboring illegal aliens and the men of our Police Force are confined to their homes? There is something seriously wrong with our system of justice.

East Haven, Connecticut is not alone in this fight with illegal immigration. Across the country in Arizona, South Carolina and in other municipal police departments the Obama Administration and Eric Holder have declared war on the United States Constitution by protecting the people who enter our country illegally instead of helping our Police Departments. In a recent article by Rachel Alexander, Obama Targeting Police Nationwide to Divert From Fast and Furious it shows the many Police Departments across the United States that are being targeted and unfortunately the only way this stops is by a change in the White House this coming November. Again, our protection, our confidence and our ways of living all are at the hands of politicians.

We need answers in the East Haven Case. We need to know why the United States Government is pressing so hard for convictions instead of the truth. We need to know if there is political profiling in the East Haven case. I documented on this very blog that Fred Brow, Chairman of the East Haven Board of Police Commission did indeed have contact with the Department of Justice after he denied it in pubic. We need to know why Mr. Paul Hongo, Former Director of Administration seems to have so much information while everyone else here has none. Where is our Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in all of this? What does she know? All of the people I mention above are Democrats with deep ties to Washington DC.

In a prolific movie from 1984, Red Dawn, there are a lot of alarming references to our weak borders where the Cuban and the Nicaraguan armies walked right through Mexico into United States after Mexico was plunged into revolution. The movie refers to "infiltrators" or other words "illegals". Now I am not saying this exact scenario is happening today and it's only a movie but look at what is happening today in Mexico. It is in state of almost civil war and anarchy. Look at the countries of South America. They are not the most friendly to us! Don't forget many of these countries don't like United States and it's American Imperalism, take a look at this clip from Red Dawn, change some of the countries around and think of what could happen if we continue to allow our borders to continue to go unsecured. ert from Fast and Furious

We cannot continue to be the lambs in this game. We need to have a voice and stand up to this liberal attack on our Police not just here but across the country. Read everything you can and have a voice. We need to protect our Country from the radical left agenda that believes that open boarders, social welfare are the answers to all of our problems. If that ideal is so terrific then why are these very people not fleeing to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela where the ideals of Socialism thrive? Or do they?

DOJ Demography Despots Bully Their Way Into East Haven

2012-02-09T23:11:00.001-05:00

Another fantastic article written by Ms. Torre. It's a must read!

Reprinted with Permission, "Connecticut Law Tribune."

Monday, January 30, 2012

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DOJ’s Demography Despots Bully Their Way Into East Haven

By KAREN LEE TORRE

Federal Department of Justice officials recently flew into New Haven and, before a gaggle of reporters summoned to a press conference, released the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s at-last-final investigative report into alleged “racial profiling” and abuses of “Latinos” by the East Haven Police Department. Heavy with histrionics and sweeping rhetoric, it reads more like a stump speech by a Democrat running for mayor of a sanctuary city.
For example, it cites the EHPD’s failure to “reach out” to the Latino community (whatever the heck that means), as if there is a federal statute requiring that. I prefer cops reach out and nab drunk drivers and those speeding around town unlicensed and uninsured, without fear of the DOJ’s demography despots swooping down with subpoenas, and Yale law students cutting their liberal teeth on them.
Mere days after staging the civil side show on East Haven, DOJ officials flew to New Haven again, this time to announce the indictment of four East Haven police officers on federal criminal charges related to the same conduct. There are unseemly ties between the DOJ’s dual civil and criminal pursuits of East Haven. More odorous is that for both purposes, the DOJ is using “victims” who also happen to be suing East Haven for money, and whose efforts are clearly buttressed by the DOJ. One hand is washing the other, the second the third.
In production for two bureaucratic years, the DOJ’s civil-side accusatory report on the EHPD was deliberately — and I say unconscionably —timed to coincide with the criminal indictment. Federal officials in the second press conference were flanked by U.S. Attorney David Fein. As with its civil report, the DOJ arranged an announcement of the indictments in the most public way, summoning media to convene for the delivery of inflammatory rhetoric and gratuitous aspersions on the accused, which federal officials knew would be TV broadcast, newspaper headlined, and Internet viral. Among the improper commentary: statements denouncing the accused officers as a “cancerous cadre” and “bullies with badges.”
I was stunned. The U.S. Attorney’s office usually announces indictments by paper press releases only. They are always appropriately sterile, announcing the names of the accused and the charges brought, while steering clear of any statements that amount to personal attacks, undermine the legal presumption of innocence, or work to poison the jury pool.
Consider whether you would ever hear such rhetoric by federal officials at a press conference held to announce the arrests on criminal charges and the holding for deportation of 12 Ecuadorians or Mexicans illegally in the U.S. Imagine one of them taking to a public podium to denounce those arrested as a “cancerous cadre” and “low-lives with stolen Social Security numbers.” I could just see the headlined condemnations in the press, and hear the hysterical screams in the hallways of Yale Law School.
In both cases, Thomas Perez, chief of the DOJ civil rights division, was in the forefront. A controversial Obama administration appointee, Perez was a subject of a recent book by a former DOJ official who describes “how a once-storied…DOJ Civil Rights Division” has, under Perez, “degenerated into a politicized fiefdom for far-left militants, where the enforcement of the law depends on the race of the victim.”
“Injustice,” by J. Christian Adams, suggests the perverse introduction into DOJ enforcement policies of a bygone “whites only” sign, this time to denote not those who might legally sip from a public water fountain, but who might permissibly be targeted for DOJ civil rights investigations. Worth reading, it convinces of the assertion that an overtly racialist clique has infested the DOJ and “squandered its moral authority.”
A paper release with David Fein’s name on it does contain the obligatory statement that an accused is innocent until proven guilty, but it is buried amongst a typeset mass of political rhetoric about cops and abuse. Its content, as well as its instructions to call Washington, D.C., and not Fein, with any questions about it, suggests Fein’s higher-ups wrote it, perhaps even against Fein’s will and better ethical and moral judgments.
To his credit, Fein did not deliver the “cancer” and “bully” statements, but he did before the cameras stand right next to the woman who did, and thereby lent the tacit approval of his office to her unethical harangue. No matter which party has controlled Washington, Connecticut has enjoyed a history of successive U.S. Attorneys who served their office with great distinction, and with respect for appearances, the presumption of innocence, and the need to refrain from the very sort of vitriol that was flung at that press conference. They include Alan Nevas, Christopher Droney, Stanley Twardy, Stephen Robinson, and Kevin O’Connor, none of whom would have abided the public maligning of an accused in such terms by a federal official who was obviously either dim-witted or herself a “bully with a federal badge.”
Fein entered his office with a fine reputation for fairness and ethical fortitude. What remains to be seen is whether he’ll leave with it, or become the first U.S. Attorney in Connecticut to be perceived as allowing politicos in the DOJ to put his face on a blatant use of a prosecution for ulterior civil and political purposes. He can start by publicly disassociating himself from those comments. And if there is any case law that permits the officers to demand a dismissal of the charges based on this grotesque poisoning of their trial environment, their counsel ought to invoke it. •
Karen Lee Torre, a New Haven trial lawyer, litigates civil rights issues in the federal courts. Her e-mail address is thimbleislands@sbcglobal.net.

East Haven Accuser Quiety Exits, Stage Left

2012-02-09T06:43:00.000-05:00

In a further effort to get the other side out there I am taking articles written by Attorney Karen Lee Torre from the Connecticut Law Tribune. She has a distinctive perspective that I think you will be very interested to read about. This is the 1st part of a 2 part story on the East Haven Police Department.

Reprinted with permission, Connecticut Law Tribune"

Monday, January 9, 2012

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East Haven Accuser Quietly Exits, Stage Left

By KAREN LEE TORRE

Last month, I mentioned that locals I met view the allegations of “racial profiling” and other abuses by East Haven police officers against Latinos as politically motivated and suspect. The ink wasn’t dry on that column when one of the plaintiff-accusers in Chacon v. East Haven Police Department managed to validate their assessment.
On Dec. 12, 2011, plaintiff Yadanny Garcia unilaterally moved to dismiss all of his claims against East Haven police officers. Filed by his counsel, David N. Rosen, the motion was curiously bald. Rosen merely represented to the court that Garcia chose to abandon his claims, but notably added the dismissal should be “with prejudice.”
Wait a minute, I thought. A plaintiff in a media-soaked bias case, represented by a lawyer who unabashedly claims the ability to maximize damage awards, just figured he’s got better things to do? I practiced law too long not to recognize this as flagging the existence of an undisclosed back story. Sure enough, the backdrop was provided in subsequent objections to Garcia’s motion, filed by the town and the accused officers.
Underscoring the significance of this are Garcia’s allegations, set forth in a complaint freighted with melodrama and broad histrionic sweeps against the whole police department. There are chapters describing the plaintiffs’ alleged experiences with police officers cast as lawless, bigoted, brutes, each chapter introduced by a theatrical headline.
Garcia sued four officers, the whole department, its chief and the town itself in connection with a single incident on Aug. 8, 2009. Garcia claimed he was a passenger in a car driven by a cousin, that the two stopped at an East Haven bar to use the bathroom, and that upon exiting, he was accosted by four officers, tased three times, punched, called a “f---ing Ecuadorian,” and subjected to a “phantom arrest.” End of story.
As Garcia would have us believe, he had done absolutely nothing wrong, was minding his own business, and was selected for police abuse because of his “race” and “ethnicity.” (Since Latinos are white, the reference to “race” is inaccurate, as is the suggestion that officers know one’s ethnicity by looking at them).
That story alone strikes me as implausible, and recent filings flesh it out. The defendants assert that Garcia withdrew his claims because they “are demonstrably false” and he has no credibility. What actually occurred, they say, “is that [Garcia] was intoxicated and was operating a [car] registered in his name …when he came upon a sobriety checkpoint that had been previously advertised in the New Haven Register.” He reportedly tried to evade the DUI checkpoint by shifting his car in reverse and driving backwards over a curb, nearly striking the driver behind him.
Officers gave chase, eventually finding Garcia hiding behind brush in a parking lot. He had abandoned his car and fleeing on foot, leaving behind his keys and cell phone. Garcia also reportedly lied about whether he had been drinking. He first denied it, then admitted having a few beers. He failed a horizontal gaze test, and then refused to take a breathalyzer after being warned in writing that refusal would result in a license suspension. Garcia was charged with DWI, unsafe backing, and interfering with police. Some “phantom arrest,” huh?
Seeking to avoid suspension, Garcia testified at a DMV hearing that his cousin was the driver. His testimony in other respects varies from his complaint (for example, he claims “two or three” cops came at him, not four, and mentions one tase, not three). Apart from Garcia’s ipse dixit, there isn’t a shred of evidence to support the “my cousin the driver” claim. The hearing officer did not find Garcia credible, concluded he was the driver (of his own car), and suspended his license.
The East Haven officers object to Garcia’s motion because it fails to dismiss all defendants sued based on Garcia’s claims. The town goes further, demanding that Garcia be sanctioned for filing patently meritless allegations that Garcia and his lawyers allowed to “sit in the public sphere for over an entire year,” while they garnered mass media attention and cast the officers and the town in a “terrible light.”
Worse, the town notes, the plaintiffs and their lawyers “added sensational charges that the officers’ conduct was based on the plaintiffs’ race and ethnicity, a libelous claim that would be actionable were it not cloaked with the immunity of the litigation privilege.”
East Haven has been hammered by the media, which has all but declared the Chacon plaintiffs proven victims. The Obama Justice Department has launched a corresponding assault on the town, attempting to goad it into voluntarily ceding the management of the police department over to a federal judge. Could it be that the DOJ hopes East Haven will roll over, lest the DOJ actually have to prove its case – and prove it with what, witnesses like Yadanny Garcia?
Worse, the media suggests, a grand jury will soon indict numerous officers based on the very sort of claims made in the Chacon case. On what evidence will law enforcement officers face criminal prosecution? The stories told by those they arrest, like Yadanny Garcia? That is truly scary.
Recently, DOJ officials flew in from Washington, D.C., and, before a gaggle of invited reporters, publicly defamed the East Haven Police Department, notwithstanding ongoing grand jury proceedings. What did they know about Yadanny Garcia and when did they know it?
At minimum, this cautions all to pause and decline to throw stones until these allegations are put to the test of cross-examination and adversary process. •
Karen Lee Torre, a New Haven trial lawyer, litigates civil rights issues in the federal courts. Her e-mail address is thimbleislands@sbcglobal.net.

US Attorney Fein manuevers Judge to hear Criminal Trial Before Civil

2012-02-07T00:58:00.003-05:00

So the shell game begins with a US District Judge agreeing to allow a motion made by US Attorney David Fein to stay or postpone the Civil Trail against the East Haven Police until the Criminal Trail is complete. So what's the big deal? Well it means everything if you the public want to know the real truth!

It seems that even though the Civil and Criminal Cases are separate they at many points are married at the hip and one can't be credible without the other. Why would US Attorney David Fein want this motion? Because he knows something that many of us don't know, that the civil case is fastly falling apart. Take for example Mr. Yadanny Garcia’s case, his own attorneys had petitioned the judge to withdraw his claims because they were false and misleading. In other words, Mr. Garcia lied and was no longer a strong witness, therefore could cost the case against the EHPD. So with this knowledge and probably a little ego it is better served for Mr. Fein to get this motion so he can proceed to a conviction of 4 or maybe more East Haven Police Officers. Isn't this the old proverbial putting the horse before the cart?

In the spirit of justice for all don't we all think it is better served that we actually hear the Civil Case first? Or is there more hidden in the DOJ report and the Civil Case? Could it be that the civil case also is holding more lies and mistruths from two key witnesses and if that sealed deposition was to be revealed to the general public there would be NO CASE against the EHPD? Could it be that the US Attorney's office is using the power of the bully pulpit, the media and other means to sensationalize the spector of more arrests to further his case? Well I guess US District Janet Bond Arterton thinks alike because she has allowed this motion and the Civil Case is suspended until the conclusion of the Criminal Case well into 2014.

Well as in any introductory case we should introduce our main characters to see what they are all about. You can click on these links to learn about

US Attorney David Fein....http://www.justice.gov/usao/ct/meetattorney.html

US District Judge Janet Bond Arterton http://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/bio_jba.html

They both were appointed by Democratic Presidents and Mr. Fein seems to have a more agressive point of view when it comes to any and all means necessary for Civil Rights...Just look here

http://www.justice.gov/usao/briefing_room/crt/outreach.html

We have to make Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez very happy in their quest to bring the country to free and open borders and to continue to propagate the pseudo invasion of the United States of America.

People please read and listen very carefully......These people are counting on you being sheeps in a pack of wolves. There is only one reason why the Civil Trial is being held up....If they let it go they loose and if they loose 4 or more officers walk.

Stay tuned for more details.

Support East Haven by supporting our Police

2012-02-05T23:50:00.000-05:00

Just last week our Town was rocked by a storm many of us hoped would never happen. Four of our EHPD were picked up by the Federal Government for a series of indictments and many of them are very serious. Do I believe the Federal Government? Do I believe my Police Department? Do I believe the men and women that serve? Let me first start by saying I used to have full faith and trust in my government but I can tell you now I believe in them less and less everyday. Eric Holder's FBI along with the Department of Justice have completely ignored what is happening next door in New Haven and seem to think that Mayor John DeStefano is some type of hero for allowing his city to become a sanctuary for illegal aliens.

Illegal aliens are not just Latino, they're many foreign nationals in this country illegal but why the Latino's are being targeted is because they come from the same hemisphere as we do. They're not coming from Europe or Asia they're coming from the America's. Many of the illegals in the Town of East Haven come from Mexico and Ecuador. Unlike our Mayor, I have a cultural understanding of the different nationalities and many of these people from Mexico and Ecuador are hard working people and just want the same thing we want and that is the American dream. However, these people before they step foot on US soil, are criminals because they haven't entered our Country legally. They are willful participants in breaking United States Customs Laws, therefore are deemed illegals.

Despite what the politicians say it is not alright for these people to enter our Country from tunnels, under fences or box cars. This pseudo invasion should never be condoned by anyone in our Government and when these people enter our country illegally they should be turned back and sent home. I don't care if it is 20 times. If these people want to come to our country our Department of Justice should make sure it is legally. I am the grandson of an immigrant and my family came through Ellis Island. My wife's parents are immigrants and they came here after Ellis Island closed and naturalized through the legal channels. It's not that hard and I certainly can't for the life of me understand what is so hard? Unless, of course these illegal aliens have every intention of gaming our system and send their earnings back home and pay no taxes or give any allegiance to our country? Could that be the reason?

Several years ago Mayor John DeStefano of New Haven started to give these illegals identification cards and just last year Governor Malloy gave them in-state tuition. Tell me how does that correct the behavior of breaking the law instead of enabling them to continue to break the law and then WANT MORE? Now in the biggest crime yet DeStefano wants to give them "municipal voting rights." Who does John DeStefano think he's kidding? The only reason why he wants illegals to vote is so he will never have another challenger to come close to him like the last opponent he had. DeStefano almost lost New Haven in 2011. What better way to game the system than to cheat your way into office!

Now that problem in New Haven has come front and center to East Haven. Our Town IS NOT a racist Town. The majority of our residents believe in law and order and we want our cops to be allowed to do their job. That does not make us racist!? If the majority of the crimes that are being committed are by a certain race of people IS HAPPENING why is that racial profiling?

I spoke to a EHPD cop a couple of days ago who really put this in perspective for me. He told me that 4 of our biggest bars in the Town cater to the Latino Community. So if those bars are serving this demographic and they are large in numbers and there are crimes being committed of course they are going to have incidents with our Police. It makes sense. What makes even more sense is the motivation of some of these people to accuse the Police as much as they can because they are not LEGAL and if they get caught they run the risk of being deported, even worse they run the risk of the money being cut off. Now if you were in that position wouldn't you do and say ANYTHING to make the Police stop? Now what do you do if you were Father Manship? Could it be that you're worried that the collections will stop? After all the Catholic Church is a non-profit organization that relies on any funding possible and with all of the sex scandals the cash box is kind of empty. All of these people have motives to make the Police stop doing their job! Has anyone in the Federal Government stopped for one second and thought that through?

As for our Board of Police Commissioners, what can I say. This Board will go down as the worst board ever to serve. With documented proof we showed that former Chairman Fred Brow along with the rest of the co-conspirators have turned our Town into a war zone because they wanted Chief Len Gallo. Now I don't know if Len Gallo is guilty or not but what I can say is that he is a very intelligent person who knows the playing field and I find it hard to believe that he would get himself embroiled in a gotcha situation. He has now retired and is gone. Will the bullets stop flying?

This situation with the East Haven Police Department is simply politics at its absolute worst. Brow and Krebs dislike the Chief. The Chief dislikes April and Brow and Krebs. When do the people in the middle who foot the bill get to have their say? I like many of my other East Haveners have had enough and all I can tell you is that its going to get worse, much worse before it gets better.

But in the end the ones that are going to being suffering the most will be our EHPD. Imagine coming to the job that you love everyday and you hate being there. Better yet imagine if you couldn't perform your duties because someone is watching over your shoulder every single moment. This is what these powers that be have done to our East Haven Police force and for what? POLITICS! Politics was quite evident when the East Haven Police Commission appointed Krebs and Brow as Advisory Committee members after their terms expired. That has never been done! What an absolute mess these people have created. What is Brow and Krebs intent and motivation? POLITICS!

But what can you do as a citizen of East Haven? First make sure you educate yourself and get both sides of the story. I never just watch Fox News, I always make sure I watch MSNBC too then decide I want side I will take. These indictments are nothing more than a one sided story along with the DOJ report. We won't know the truth until January 2013 when the courts will hear the stories. But know this. How the Fed's behaved in the arrests of our Police will tell you bit of the story. You see it seems that the Feds were none to happy with their perception of "non-cooperation" by our PD and wanted to make an example. Strip searching their husbands and terrorizing innocent family members at 7am in their homes. Or better yet blockading our PD waiting for the ultimate showdown. Is the United States Government kidding me? These men wore badges and had the public trust day in and day out. What was the purpose of the pre-dawn raid? What was the intent no other than to strike fear in the next wave or better yet to intimidate the East Haven Police Community? Has anyone thought that it was excessive force? Why couldn't they just call Deputy Chief Mannion and have all four of them come in a surrender at EHPD Headquarters or even better the Federal Court in New Haven? We do it for harden criminals all the time!

In addition, two of the Police Officers are forbidden to enter the Town of East Haven and all of them had to put up hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonds on their personal assets. Our cops are now a flight risk? I mean who is the criminal now in the eyes of the United States Government? Men who patrol our streets and keep the community safe or those who INVADE our country, drive illegal and threaten the well-being of our citizens by driving uninsured? Maybe just maybe karma will come around and bite one of the Capone Administration's supporters. Maybe then those who swear allegiance to the flag will get some real justice.

Please help our EHPD Officers by supporting this cause to raise money for their defense.

http://www.giveforward.com/ehpdsignal4fund?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=vanity_page

Joe Maturo MUST RESIGN his office for comments he makes about Latino Community

2012-01-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Tonight I have been receiving a flurry of bad news phone calls one after the other regarding what is going on in East Haven. First and foremost, I stand united with the East Haven Police Department and I know many of our residents do too. I believe in our men and women in blue and will stand with them shoulder to shoulder in this fight with the United States Government but what I will not stand for as a taxpayer in the Town of East Haven is for our leader, our Mayor, to pour more salt on the wound.

WPIX in New York, a station I watched for many years sent their reporter Mario Diaz to Town Hall to interview Mayor Maturo and when he asked the Mayor what he plans on doing for the Latino Community today, Joe Maturo responded "I might have Tacos when I go home." he then tried to catch his idiotic statement by babbling like a fool but it showed Joe Maturo's arrogance and immaturity to hold command of the highest office in East Haven.

That comment was an insult not only to the Latino Community but all residents of the Town of East Haven. It was uncalled for, inresponsible and wreckless and I call on the Town Council to immediately ask for Joe Maturo's resignation. It is clearly evident that Joe Maturo's judgement and perception of what has happened today is in question. It's time for the Chairman of the Town Council to invoke the powers of Office of Mayor until a Special Election can be held in 3 months where we can get some responsible leadership at the helm that can perform during a crisis.

In the interest of our Police Department, we need a change in leadership so we have a fighting chance to save our East Haven Police Department and our Town from further public relations damage. Our Police certainly didn't need these words and it is certain that they don't condone it either.

For the residents of the Town of East Haven stand for what is right and call for Joe Maturo's resignation now!

Please click on this link to review the interview with Mario Diaz and Joe Maturo.

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-conn-officers-arrested-mayor-reax,0,2435685.story

You want the truth? Ask a cop. You want it printed ask The East Haven Vine

2011-12-30T01:51:00.000-05:00

The saga of the worst East Haven Police Commissioners Board in the history of the Town of East Haven continued on Tuesday night where the vendettas of personal attacks continued. In probable retaliation for Chief Gallo telling the members of the Police Commission they were forbidden to be on the grounds of the EHPD the Board voted unanimously to uphold a 1973 rule from the East Haven Department Manual that said the Chief of the Department must be an electorate of the Town of East Haven. Are these Commissioners for real? Here we have the United States Department of Justice investigating our rules and regulations which they site as being outdated and these buffoons pull out a 39 year old out dated policy and expect that we the public don’t see further retaliation? Message to the Police Commission, you’re nothing but an appointed civilian oversight board that sets policies and procedures, you don’t run the East Haven Police Department.

That leads me to my next topic of who, what, when and why. We all know the issue that spearheaded the Department of Justice investigation to racial profiling came with the February 2009 arrest of Father James Manship for interfering with Officers David Cari and Dennis Spaulding while they were investigating the sale of license plates at the My Country Store on Main Street. Those events led this current board to seek an investigation of the incident from Chief Gallo. Chairman Brow had asked Chief Gallo about the events of that arrest and if he believed the arrest met the criteria expected. The Chief responded that indeed everything that the officers fell into compliance. I guess that wasn’t enough for Chairman Brown because at the May 25, 2010 East Haven Board of Police Commissioners meeting Commissioner Krebs made a motion “to request that the Chief States Attorney’s Office conduct an investigation into the arrest of Fr. James Manship.” (May 25, 2010 Board Meeting Minutes) All of the Commissioners voted in favor. Then on June 4, 2010 Chairman Brow wrote a letter to Kevin Kane from the Chief States Attorney’s Office requesting a challenge of Chief Gallo review of the incident. In his letter Chairman Brow was upset that the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners was not privy to any written reports or communications from the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office. Chairman Brow was seeking answers to the following questions.

1) Did the arrest have sufficient probable cause?

2) Were the police officers lawfully on the premise?

3) Were the officers reports accurate and truthful?

Brow indicated that it was essential to have this reviewed because the arrest of Fr. Manship was dismissed in court.

Here is the letter written to Kevin Kane, Chief State's Attorney's Office

I guess though that was not enough for Chairman Brow. Because on June 28, 2010 Chairman Brow, WITHOUT East Haven Police Commission Board approval wrote a letter to Mr. Luis Saucedo from the United State Department of Justice enclosing the letter Mr. Brow wrote to the Chief States Attorney’s Office and enclosed editorials from the New Haven Register. Since Mr. Brow is such a conformist about process and procedure maybe he can answer the question of why he took it upon himself to write to the Department of Justice and thus possibly exposing the Town of East Haven’s liability further? Where was the Town Attorney in this decision?

Here is the letter written to the Department of Justice authored by Mr. Fred Brow

Where was the advice to the Board from the Town Attorney because on June 30, 2010 Mr. Kane responded to Mr. Brow and stated in his letter. “Following the arrest of the Reverend Manship the Office of The State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven thoroughly reviewed all pertinent circumstances. That office determined that no prosecutable criminal conduct had occurred during the investigation or arrest.

Here is the response letter from Mr. Kane that came 2 days after Mr. Brow took it upon himself to write to the United States Department of Justice.

Still not getting his way the tenacious Mr. Brow kept pushing the issue now looking for the State's Prosecutor, Michael Dearington in New Haven to intervene. Mr. Brow wrote this letter on July 19, 2011.

Sometime the same day Mr. Brow must have been happier than a clam because he finally received acknowledgement for his efforts. The United States Department of Justice returned a letter to Mr, Brow thanking him for his materials he provided in his June 28, 2011 letter.

At that point the Chairman had no right, in his position, to go before anyone else without the permission of the Board or the Town Attorney. Fred Brow’s sneaky one handed communication with the United States Department of Justice says two things. First, he is most certainly after Chief Gallo and that he had every intention to put his interests over the people of East Haven. His actions could have severe financial implications to every taxpayer in the Town of East Haven and also continued the battle between the Administration and the East Haven Police Department. Instead of trying to work within the East Haven Police Department Mr. Brow took the approach that I am the Chairman, you are the subordinate, you do what I say when I say and if you don't well we will see what happens. Thanks Mr. Brow for placing the Town of East Haven in the limelight.

On July 23, 2011 Mr. Brow was in receipt of a letter that came from New Haven's Prosecutor, States Attorney Michael Dearington stating the the case against Fr. Manship was dismissed and that there will be no further action taken. Basically he was told by Mr. Dearington we see nothing wrong here and we are not going forward with your request.

Then at the next Board of Police Commission Meeting, August 31, 2010 Detective Thomas Russell read a statement aloud that at the time were unknown to the general public. That the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners, The Mayor and her Administrators had called the Officers of the EHPD "troubled", made public comments about officers being arrested but was most revealing at the time is Tom said exactly what I am reporting. That this Commission stepped out of it's bounds. In addition, Officer David Cari, one of the targets in the Fr. Manship arrest plead his case to the Board looking for these letters clearing him of any wrong doing in the Manship arrest to be placed in his file. The response from Mr. Brow...."The matter has been forwarded to the DOJ and he could not comment on the content." (August 2010 Board of Police Commissioners Minutes). Gee Mr. Brow, I wonder why? Could it be that now you are a witness in the case since you were sending information to the DOJ?

It is also very evident that this East Haven Police Commission has willfully deceived the public by making statements that it was not involved in the bring the Department of Justice to the Town. From Mr. Brow’s letter dated on June 28, 2010 it is very evident that Mr. Brow’s intention was to draw more attention to the Town of East Haven thus inviting more attention to a bad situation already. Did he and this Board actually call the Department of Justice? I really don’t know and we may never know what truly happened prior to June 4, 2010 but one thing is for sure that Fred Brow and this Police Commission are a wrecking crew geared to get Chief Gallo. In Fred Brow’s own words from the DOJ findings. “We need a change at the top and now his efforts to hold Gallo to a 1973 rule book to make him be an elector in the Town of East Haven is just plain retaliation.

Who does Fred Brow think he’s fooling? Who does James Krebs think he's fooling? At the December 27, 2011 Board of Police Commissioners meeting you hear me make a statement that I hope that none of the Board was involved. My exchange with both Mr. Brow and Mr. Krebs tells it all. From frame 7:10 to 8:53 you hear me ask for an apology from the Board for Officer Mike Sorbo and Sgt. Ed Lennon for their treatment by the DOJ, The Mayor, The Administration and especially the Board. Their response? Paraphrasing, "Apology for what?" Mr. Krebs said, "We didn' initiate anything. Since we didn't initiate anything we shouldn't apologize. My response, "I hope what you said was a true statement, that it wasn't started by anyone on this Board." Mr. Krebs, "It's a true statement as far as I'm concerned." You watch the video and you decide if this Board if lying. I know they are because the proof is right above. (EHBOPC Meeting) Courtesy of East Haven Politics, Ed Foley.

Thanks for hanging in there and following this story. For my friends at the East Haven Police Department I wish you and your families a Safe and Healthy New Year. You are our heroes because everyday you go to work not knowing what will be. The truth will come out and I hope this is the start of many victories to come.

God Bless..

Where is the PUBLIC Apology from Capone, Hongo and the Board of Police Commissioners?

2011-12-27T13:16:00.005-05:00

Three days after the United States Department of Justice held a press conference followed by FORMER Mayor April Capone and FORMER Deputy Director Paul Hongo we all are waiting for a PUBLIC apology from the FORMER Mayor and her sidekick Paul Hongo. Why? Well as we discovered one of the Plantiff's in the case Mr. Yadanny Garcia, attempted to withdraw his charges on Officer Michael Sorbo and Sgt. Lennon because he lied about what happened to him on August 8, 2009. It is was reported by Mr. Garcia that the officers used excessive force, beat and tased him that was never true.!

As quoted by FORMER Mayor April Capone, in the East Haven Patch, "Capone: DOJ's Findings 'No Surprise'

Capone — who lost last month's re-election attempt by a handful of votes to returning and current Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. — said she was aware of the nature and certain aspects of the Justice Department's investigation, but was not allowed to comment on the case while it was ongoing.

Because of this, she said, others attempted to fill that information gap with "rumors" and false information suggesting that the Justice Department's investigation was not as serious at it was.

"This is very serious... to hear anyone deny this is a problem or an issue with the police department is frightening," Capone said of officers engaging in racial discrimination against Latino residents.

So if FORMER Mayor Capone is so concerned about justice for all where is her compassion for the two officers who were falsely accused of committing a crime against Mr. Garcia. Why is she not leading the charge to question the Federal Government's investigation that now has falsely accused two of her officers? Why isn't she? Because plain and simple April Capone is full of crap.

April Capone could care less about East Haven or any of the people of East Haven and that also goes for Paul Hongo. You see the day after April Capone Almon lost the election her home went up for sale. Look here.....http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/279-Barberry-Rd-East-Haven-CT-06512/2122979873_zpid/

Her sidekick Paul Hongo also never lived in East Haven and as far as I and many of us here in East Haven could care less about your taxes or you as residents of the Town of East Haven.

So if these two really cared about East Haven why is the FORMER Mayor moving out of town? Could it be she knew this was coming down and she wanted to get out of Dodge? Then of course we couldn't forget this famous quote after FORMER Mayor April was handed her defeat.

“We really didn’t think this would turn out this way,” Capone told WTNH-TV News 8, “but at the end of the day, the voters choose the person whose values and work ethic closely resembles theirs, and, you know, that’s their choice, and I respect that, and that’s what makes it a democracy.”

I usually let the readers decide but readers.....April Capone is lying right through her teeth when she gets on the news and says she's sad for the Taxpayers of East Haven. She could give a damn about you or anyone else. FORMER Mayor April's machine was hell bent on destroying the very fabric of this Town and to remake it in her own vision that is still unknown. But one thing is for sure everything FORMER Mayor April did and said was based on vendetta. Just look at who is the Chairman of the Police Commission, Fred Brow and the four casts of characters.

Fred Brow, like the vicious little chihuahua, just has to keep going until the very end but Fred we also know your game. You see if you can remember back to 1997 Fred Brow was a VERY BIG Joe Maturo supporter until Joe said no to him being put of the Board of Police Commissioners he held his breathe and as soon as April won he was put on the EH Police Commission. Who knew that Joe Maturo had such insight to the disposition of Mr. Brow. Joe I guess knew that the Napoleon syndrome ran in this mans veins and that he could be such a hazard. Good call Joe.

James Krebs who has the audacity to serve while owing the Town of East Haven hundreds of dollars in back taxes and drives around a vehicle registered out of Town. What kind of example does this man set for upholding the laws of the Town of East Haven. I've called for him to step down but he's going to keep on the mission.

James Civitello the public servant with the scowl on his face. He's another one that has been seen driving around Town with a Maine license plate although it is a rare sighting. I wonder why we always see Mr. Civitello walking on foot around Town and not using his car? Inquring minds would like to know.

Frank Perigrossi just a follower and doesn't have the guts to stand up to the other commissioners when they are wrong. You see Frank knows that they are wrong because he wore the gun and badge for years maybe he's just waiting for Brow and Krebs to be kicked off the Board in February. We could only hope that this once respected former cop will start to do the right thing.

Carl Perez here's an interesting character. Nice when you talk face to face. Always looking for approval. Tells the men in the rank and file he's going to support them and at the very first opportunity he sticks it to them. Also uses his authority on the Police Commission to flex muscle on Taylor Avenue to place Emergency Orders for no parking signs during the St. Vincent de Paul Church carnival. Oh I forgot he lives right across the street. Little self serving aren't we Carl? Then of course we can't forget the sign on the bridge during the election incident where The Commissioner didn't like the sign and made a big stink about it.

As I wrote earlier in the week every one of these men with the exception of Perigrossi is a member of the East Haven Democratic Town Committee serving under Gene Ruocco. Their mission is to keep at any cost Democratic Control of the Town and that even means embarrassing the Town just to get to Chief Len Gallo. You see what the general public doesn't know is this has been a political show since the very first meeting on what to do about Chief Len Gallo the actual target.

Back in 2007 the men who are held in confidence met with Mayor April and Town Attorney CoFrancesco to discuss what to do about the Chief. The two men said we need to be diplomatic, fair and retire the Chief but it was Patty who said she wanted a "pint" of his blood and there was the beginnings of the drama and the end result of a very politically charged and weak DOJ investigation. You see Patty and the Chief go back to New Haven where she was terminated as the City Attorney. It's all about the vendetta and where there is vendetta there is never room for an apology, how sad!

Racial Profiling or Political Profiling....What's the difference?

2011-12-22T23:18:00.001-05:00

It's great to be back! Sorry for the obvious absence but I've been working very long hours and not able to write. So I've been following this story about the DOJ and the East Haven PD for the past few days and at first I was very alarmed by the story breaking but as I continued to watch the television newscasts I could not help but see some profiling myself. Yes I did see some political profiling. I saw all the former Democratic Administration and some of the current East Haven Board of Police Commissioners at the DOJ Press Conference but NOT ONE of the accused, any of the current Administration or any Republicans from East Haven at the DOJ Press Conference.

Could political profiling be as serious as racial profiling? Well I guess it's all in the eyes of the beholder. You see political profiling can be just as serious as racial profiling. Think about it. Is it really any different? In political profiling you hate so much. In racial profiling there is hatred too. In political profiling you target and defame your opponent. In racial profiling you target and defame your victim. In some cases, political profiling ends up in violence against your target as does racial profiling. So the question is will the DOJ look into the political profiling that FORMER Mayor April Capone, Paul Hongo, Fr. Manship, Frank Capone, James Krebs and Fred Brow are conducting? How is it that at this press conference NOT one of the current administration knew anything about the press conference but everyone of the Capone Administration did? Could the United States Department of Justice be favoring one side over the other? Could it be that the DOJ is collaborating in Political Profiling with the former Democratic Administration? Could it be that President Obama's attorney's have zeroed in on East Haven because it is a community of not intolerance of Latino's but a community that holds it's citizens and visitors ACCOUNTABLE for their actions? East Haven unlike New Haven is not a haven for lawlessness and a sanctuary for illegal immigrants and despite what the DOJ thinks or says pulling people over for driving illegally registered cars, having no insurance and no drivers license is JUST CAUSE. In addition why has the DOJ conveniently left off the conviction rates for those illegals? Could it be that they are close to 100%?

Now tonight we discover what I've suspected all along, that some of the plaintiff's in the case against the EHPD want out because they have committed perjury. This Garcia character is a real winner. He accuses Officer Michael Sorbo and Sgt. Ed Lennon of participating in assaulting him and if you know these two officers like I do you would never believe it.

In the 15 years I have known Mike Sorbo I have never once seen him ever lift a finger to anyone in a violent way. He is one of the most subdued people I have ever met. He has a soft heart and cares about human beings. He served as the DARE Officer for several years and every DARE graduation I attended the kids just loved him. He wears Badge #1 for a reason because he's a long serving officer who gets along with just about everyone.

Although I have not known Sgt. Eddie Lennon that long I do know the man and he is a very soft spoken person and non confrontational. Having him participate in what Garcia has said happened on August 8, 2009 is just not in Eddie's character and simply not believable!

Now we learn that from Sgt. Montagna's report that Garcia was going through a DUI Checkpoint, tried to evade it and became combative while he was being placed under arrest. Now that I can believe! Because the "CONSEQUENCES" of going through a DUI checkpoint under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not being licensed and or registered will trigger an citation up to and including arrest. In addition running from the Police after being detained will also trigger "CONSEQUENCES" and may result in physical restraint up to and including deadly physical force if the life of a Police Officer is placed at risk. So as we East Haven parents have learned from our DARE Officer that doing bad things leads to "CONSEQUENCES". Thanks Officer Mike, I understand. I don't drink and drive. I register my vehicles and make sure they are insured and best of all I maintain my citizenship so I can retain all of my Constitutional Rights afforded to me.

So now I have a question for the great United States Department of Justice. In the hundreds of interviews and reviews did not one of the agents know the character of this supposed victim of Latino profiling, Mr. Garcia? Did anyone of these Agents seriously look at the careers of these two officers and say I will afford them the benefit of doubt? Could it be that the Department of Justice Report could have some serious and erroneous flaws in it? Could it be that United States Department of Justice could be wrong and only listening to one side? I'm a Republican in the Town of East Haven and I've have never been questioned about the East Haven Police but it's amazing that there were 6 politically connected Democrats at the the DOJ's press conference.

Could it be that Officer Mike Sorbo could be the victim of political profiling? Wasn't Officer Sorbo the Policer Officer who filled out the arrest warrant that led to FORMER Mayor April Capone's arrest? Wasn't it a fact that in 2007 Officer Mike ran for Town Council in District 2 on the Republican ticket? Wasn't also the fact that FORMER Mayor April said in a recorded phone call to the EHPD that she was tired of Officer Sorbo playing "cute" down at the beach? Could it be that this was the incident that sparked the war between Mayor April and the East Haven Police Department? Could it be that the East Haven Police Department is the victim of political profiling?

The sad part about this whole thing is there are no crimes on the books for political profiling and there should be! It's just as dangerous and both sides play the game to the detriment to the victims who many times don't want anything to do with it. Do you see the similarities?

I know the FBI, DOJ, State Department and other Governmental Agencies are watching everything and reading everything in the Town, this blog included and I welcome it. Maybe they should look at the CONSEQUENCES of political profiling and maybe they could understand what many of us already know that FORMER Mayor Capone, Paul Hongo, Frank Capone, Fr. Manship, James Krebs and Fred Brow play that game very well!

The Truth about East Haven’s Workplace Policies and Zero Tolerance under Paul Hongo

2011-12-02T01:04:00.001-05:00

I had to take a deep breath after reading Paul Hongo’s latest article in the East Haven Patch and when I was done laughing I said to myself Paul Hongo is nothing but a blatant hypocrite. The nerve of Mr. Hongo to call Sargent John Miller a liar! It just seems to me that Mr. Paul Hongo, FORMER Deputy Director of Town Affairs is just venting, stomping his feet and in complete denial that he lost his job. Well I have news for you Mr. Hongo, if you worked for me you would have lost your job whether or not April Capone was Mayor. Your ability to “squash” situations that occurred under your watch at your discretion for political favor would have been just cause to terminate you.

I am speaking specifically about a case that occurred this past year when a subordinate of one of your departments was solicited via email to attend a trip with a manager. When the employee balked and refused to submit to the sexual advances in the email guess who she called Mr. Hongo? Yes, yours truly. You see Mr. Hongo, I have a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations and therefore I am a subject matter expert in these cases. My advice to your employee was two-fold, they could call the union and inform them of the situation or they could hire an attorney and sue the Town of East Haven for documented sexual harassment. Your employee made the right decision to call the union, although we thought at the time, not to hire an attorney but to work through the union and your office to get resolution to the situation. At first, things were moving along very appropriately. There were meetings between the union, you and the complainant and then there were direct conversations with the individual who committed the offense. It looked like something was going to be done under the “Zero Tolerance” policy you quote, but guess what Mr. Hongo? Nothing happened. You squashed it, you didn’t bring that Manager up on charges, run his name through the press or bring them before their board now did you Mr. Hongo? <Paul is probably stuttering as he’s reading> It’s ok Paul, I know the whole story because I was behind the scenes guiding this entire process on behalf of your employee who did a fantastic job and was at times more concerned about not embarrassing the Town of East Haven unlike you do.

It’s so sad Paul that you are willing to sell your soul for the demise of Sargent John Miller because he posted a blog up on the Police Officers Union bulletin board. The blog, by the way was not a blog that he authored and when he was made aware of the offensive blog it was removed. Technically Mr. Hongo you and your Board of Police Commissioners have no proof of the author of the blog and your target of Sgt. Miller is plain wrong and borders harassment. It was after the discovery of the blog posting the “offended” employee filed a grievance and a CHRO complaint. As the Human Resources guru of East Haven what did you do to try and protect the Town of East Haven from these charges? or was your advice to file the grievance and CHRO? It's funny because these two cases were happening simultaneously and both have very different outcomes. Mr. Hongo, what did you do in your investigation to determine if you may have had another case of inappropriate behavior of a Manager with their employee? In the blog at the Police Department, it references a sexual relationship between the two. What did you do or say to the Manager involved in the blog? Did you ask if what was written in the blog is true? I know the answer, no you didn't and nothing was done! As for the Police Commissioner, who really cares, he’s not an employee but an appointee of the Mayor. Really Mr. Hongo what have you done to protect anyone but your political buddies?

There is also another situation with the East Haven Police Department that Mr. Hongo became directly involved in. Mr. Hongo was caught “running his mouth” about a consensual relationship between a male and female police officer. One of the officers was legally separated and they began to date. Because Mr. Hongo had a problem with the male officer, he disparaged his name every time he had the chance to. It took the involvement of the East Haven Police Local 1662 and the Union Attorney to shut Mr. Hongo up.

< Can you see the bobble head rocking back and forth in your mind? I can.>

How sad that it has to come to this. Mr. Hongo you are nothing more than a political hack and a sensationalist at that. Whose business is it to discuss a consensual adult relationship with anyone, especially the person who has the Human Resources knowledge and was the former Local 1298 CWA President?

Mr. Hongo if you had such a “zero tolerance” for work place violence why in fact did you stand for the Mayor’s decision to allow Ralph Mauro to continue to work while he was being brought up on felony gun charges? If you were so concerned about the well- being of the employees of the Town of East Haven why did you not place Mr. Mauro on administrative leave? You after all according to your blog you're the subject matter expert on Human Resources, correct Mr. Hongo?

Now for the hard core truth Mr. Hongo, you are a phony and a hypocrite. You are disingenuous in writing stories about your version of the truth. The facts are the facts Mr. Hongo, an employee of the Town of East Haven who had a legitimate, documented sexual harassment case had no justice served because you thought it best to keep it out of the public eye, you kept it between the Union and the Town. But when it came to Sgt. Miller you played politics and wrote your article blasting the Union President, Sgt. John Miller. Face it Mr. Hongo this case only arose because the Union leveled a no-confidence vote against the administration. Sgt. Miller is a hero cop that saved the lives of fellow officers in the line of duty and he and the members of Local 1662 did not agree with the way you, the Mayor, the Board of Police Commissioners and Inspector Nappi was running the Police Department. Mr. Hongo I ask just who the hell do you think you are?

Now that the truth and FULL DISCLOSURE has been granted to the people of East Haven, I now dare you to respond, but be prepared to have it all come out Mr. Hongo. Failure to provide equal treatment as the Chief Human Resources person makes you liable regardless of whether or not you are an employee of the Town of East Haven. You were the man in charge of all labor matters and you failed to provide equal treatment and zero tolerance Mr. Hongo. Maybe the Federal Government should investigate you and your Administration for not following a consistent and fair practices in governing these types of matters.

These stories I write about here are true cases here in the Town of East Haven but I can assure you and the people involved that the East Haven Vine will protect the sources and the names of the people involved. It is not the intention of this blog to embarrass any employee but to only print the truth and to disqualify Mr. Hongo's statements and writings.

Lastly Mr. Hongo…..Just go away. You’ve been fired by the people of East Haven. We don’t want to read your LIES anymore.

East Haven Board of Police Commissioners saga continues...February 1 can't come soon enough.

2011-11-30T00:24:00.000-05:00

Tonight at 7:00pm (November 29, 2011) there was supposed to be a Police Commissioners meeting several hours after Mayor Joe Maturo continued his impressive pledge of putting Chief Len Gallo back on the job after serving 19 months on ice. However, the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners failed to get a quorum so the meeting was canceled. Just one word describes this latest action, COWARDS.

For a Police Commission who can find the time to hold a Special Meeting at a moments notice, I find it truly unbelievable that Commissioners James Krebs, Joe Civitello and Carl Perez could not attend tonight's meeting. This unsavory gang of five are becoming the biggest disgrace to serve on any boards in the history of the Town of East Haven and all because of a word and actions I can't stand, vendetta.

Each and every member of this DIS-honorable Board should hang their heads in shame for what they have put this Town through. They know the wrath has been issued through the ballot box and by the "Special Meeting" they held against Sgt John Miller, their days are numbered. This Board should also know they and certain members of their Administration are the reason why Mayor April lost the election. All these attacks against our Police Department, accusations, denial of hearings for both Gallo and Spaudling, removal of the K9 unit and DARE programs made people fed up. All of these items I bring up were all brought through vendetta for Chief Len Gallo and it's absolutely disgusting.

I applaud Joe Maturo's actions today because Joe knows what many of us already knew, there wasn't enough evidence in the first place to remove Len Gallo. So Mayor April and Town Attorney Patty CoFrancesco decided to be the bully and the bully pulpit and put the taxpayers on the hook for 19 months allowing Len to sit home. Still to this day, we're hearing from the FORMER Assistant Director, Paul Hongo on his justification of why Capone's Administration placed Gallo on leave. I have one message for Mr. Hongo. Cut the crap, cut the lies and stay in Trumbull. You've done enough damage to our Town. Please just go away and let us move on and heal from the last 4 years.

Not being in Mayor Joe's inner circle, I can say so far, this Mayor has conducted the business of the Town the way it should be, in the best interests of the Taxpayer and for the safety of us all. Soon I hope to see the East Haven Police Department back out on the street conducting Community Policing, arresting drug dealers, conducting DUI/DWI check's at locations where they make sense, the return of our K9, the return of our DARE program, keeping the peace and sending a clear message to those who break the laws of our Town, that our Chief has returned and the rule of law has as well. And if you commit a crime in the Town of East Haven you will be dealt with in the most professional police manner but you will be dealt with and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

This kangaroo commission should just stay home until February 1st when we will usher in two new commissioners to replace Fred Brow and the man who owes more than just an apology, Mr. James Krebs. These two leading men remind me of what George Bailey said to Old Man Potter in It's a Wonderful Life, "You're nothing but a warped frustrated old man." In this case two warped frustrated old men. But I think you get my point. February 1, 2012 can't come fast enough.

The New East Haven Board of Education….Take a listen, you’ll like what you see and hear!

2011-11-23T20:41:00.000-05:00

Last night, I attended the East Haven Board of Education meeting and was treated to what should be on every board and commission in this Town, a bi-partisan spirit. After Tom Hennessey was sworn in he gave the best speech I have ever heard by any elected official in my 16 years being a resident. Tom spoke very clearly about holding everyone, including the Administration accountable and he didn’t care for the blame game, grandstanding and finger pointing. He told the East Haven Board of Education members that they were a team, not here for the Democrats, Republicans, their own personal agendas but only for the children of the Town and the Taxpayers.

Tom echoed the words I have been saying for years, that it doesn’t matter what party you belong to that affiliation is to be checked at the door. Maybe just with that type of management of the Board of Education we can finally get out of the bottom of the pile and get to work! Tom was also very serious about controlling costs and spending and he put his words into immediate action by placing BOE approval on any purchase order over $2,500.00. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Finally someone in Government is walking the walk and talking the talk! This decision was based on the expenditure of $11,000.00 on mulch that no one knows where it went to. Frankly, this practice has been going on for years at the Board of Education and with a man like Tom Hennessey at the controls I think the East Haven Board of Education may just have had its star born!

As for the Town side of the budget Mayor Maturo and his rekindled Administrators should take a close look to what Hennessey is doing up at the BOE. Making wise financial decisions is going to be the key to trying to roll back the 17% tax increase everyone is talking about. It’s going to be a very personal and somewhat delicate balance between what is best for the Taxpayers and conducting the business of the Town. Hard choices will have to be made based on business decisions not vendetta and politics. It will be very hard for this cast of characters because their past motive of operation is just that, vendetta. Joe Maturo, though, I think is getting it. I must say so far he is doing the right thing. In a meeting with the Police Union officials he told them what happened 4 years ago is in the past and we’re going to leave it there. AMEN! AMEN AMEN! That was the best thing Mayor Maturo could do for the Police Department and the Taxpayers. Stop the war with the EHPD and let them do their jobs!

Over the past 4 years this Town has been ripped to shreds because of partisan bickering between the Democrats and the Republicans. You see figures like Democratic Town Chairman Gene Ruocco make everything about the Democrats and how they can do no wrong when in fact they were doing many things wrong. This blog was born because even the newly electronic news feed jumped on board with the Democrats and began to promote their agenda. This Town should have only one agenda and that is how can we help each other to increase the values of our homes, make East Haven a safer community, and improve our schools and our community so we can once again be the town of choice along the shoreline. Today, almost like the civil war we are so divided and angry. It’s time to stop the bickering and come together. I am so tired of fighting. Honestly, the Capone Administration wore me down to the bone and I don’t think I could have handled another two years of arrogance and contempt for the people of East Haven.

So on this eve of Thanksgiving lets count our blessings. Heal the wounds of bitter partisanship and realize that we are all a community here. We are all in this together and the only way out is to work like Tom Hennessey said, like a TEAM.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, going forward this blog will make every attempt to try and promote the good of East Haven but with more of a watch dog approach.

Tomorrow, I will be attempting to practice what I preach by being at the East Haven Community Center tomorrow at 8am. I will be working with the East Haven Rotary making sure that some of my neighbors will have a solid meal for at least one day and one night. It’s a step in the right direction we should all take notice of and realize that we are all neighbors and friends. Stop down and lend a hand we’d love to see everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving

Calling all Cars....The East Haven Police Commission has a Tax Evader!

2011-11-16T22:41:00.000-05:00

In the continuing series of "Just who the hell do they think they are?" our second badge of honor lies on Police Commissioner James Krebs. As we all know the East Haven Police Commission has been front and center of the entire controversy with the East Haven Police Department and Mayor April.

One would think that a position of Police Commissioner should be bestowed on a person of character, honor and moral fiber. Does Mr. Krebs pass the litmus test? Well we can start by checking out taxes. As you may have heard Mayor April tell everyone that it is the single most important thing to pay one's taxes. She even had made note that she sent the assessor out to check on out of state plates and those who didn't pay their tax bills.

Low and behold the Vine did some research of Mr. Krebs' taxes and discovered that Mr. Krebs owes as of April 29, 2011 $856.64 in BACK TAXES on a 1987 Lincoln Continental. Just how could that be? Mr. Krebs sits on the highly prestigious East Haven Police Commission. You know the board that holds everyone feet to the fire! You know the board that makes sure everyone is held to account for their actions. The one that tries and convicts without due process. So how could Mr. Brow not be aware of this? How could April Capone not do her vetting? But the biggest question of them all is around the car that Mr. Krebs currently drives....Where is that car registered because according to The East Haven Tax Office there are no motor vehicles registered to Mr. Krebs in the Town of East Haven? Furthermore, State law says the if a vehicle is housed at a residence for more than 6 months IT MUST BE REGISTERED in the Town it resides in! Oh no! Could it be that a Police Commissioner in the Town of East Haven has violated the Motor Vehicle laws of the State of Connecticut?

So Mr Krebs, can you answer the question of why you didn't pay your car taxes? Can you explain how you can sit in judgment of others for allegedly not following the law when you yourself don't follow the law?
Mr. Krebs should immediately resign from the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners for failing to hold his position with honor, honesty and disclosure.

Lastly, it's only $856.64 maybe the Democratic Town Committee can help out since the $88K they raised couldn't get Mayor April back in. It's the least they could do for you for holding court over your kangaroo court of a Police Commission.

Unfortunately the link feature is broken on Blogger so if you would like a hard copy of the tax report from the Town of East Haven just email me at dan467@aol.com

SIGNAL 4, Officer Needs Assistance!!!

2011-11-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

**Signal 4, OFFICER NEEDS ASSISTANCE*** Union President, Sergeant, father, and hero-- Sergeant JOHN MILLLER-- is under attack by the recently defeated Capone administration, with 4 days left in office, a special meeting of the Police Commissioners was called, to bring charges, up to and including termination, against SGT John Miller. Come to the Town Hall tomorrow at 6:00pm in support of union President JOHN MILLER.***** The special meeting is suppose to start at 7:00pm

A second time around Maturo needs to realize who put him in office

2011-11-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

Joe Maturo Jr has won his most narrowest decision just by 34 votes. Both April Capone and Joe Maturo are polarizing figures in East Haven politics and both of them have big ego's, thus the problems begin. If Joe Maturo is going to have a successful two years he must come to grips with two things, first he was not the first choice of the Republican Party and secondly he owes his election to the withdrawal of the Republican nominee John Finkle. There is no doubt that if John stayed in the race as a Republican and Joe as the 3rd line candidate April Capone would still be sitting in the office of Mayor.

Don't get me wrong I am VERY glad to see the exit of April Capone and her cast of characters but I certainly do not forget the fact that it was Joe Maturo's last term in office that caused her to become Mayor in the first place.

I do like what I am hearing from Joe Maturo, that he's here for the people etc. Now you just have to show it. Show the people that the old Joe that was fired in 2007 will never resurface. Show the people that you will not be vindictive and punitive and that you will tolerate open and honest discussion. Be fair with your Board and Commission appointments because you are supposed to be here for the people of East Haven, not yourself.

I know that Joe made some campaign promises. Some will be very easy to accomplish and I expect the first one will start right at the East Haven PD when the 3 Chief issue will be resolved. The more challenging one will be the roll back of the 17% tax increase. While I've heard that it is virtually impossible to do I would not count Joe Maturo out on that. Joe is a fiscal conservative and knows what he is doing with finances. His philosophy will inspire the new culture in Town Hall that there is not an open check book and that we must be prudent in all areas. Lastly, and this is the biggest one, bringing East Haven's reputation back to good standing. I know Joe pretty well and he is not a big press guy so I wouldn't expect the weekly press conferences we've seen for the past 4 years. I would expect him to go about his business under the radar screen, which it is the way it is supposed to be. But what we can not return to is the absentee Mayor who is out playing golf or on vacation in Florida. These were proven downfalls for Joe Maturo.

The people have elected you Joe, we're counting on you to get this Town straight and we will be there for you but you have to be there for us too.

Here's to a successful Maturo Administration! East Haven needs it!

Ok East Haven Take a breath it's time to heal and get to work to rebuild the EHPD

2011-11-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

A terrible 4 year chapter has closed and hopefully the only memory we will have of Mayor April is her picture on the wall with the former Mayors. Now it's time to pick up the pieces and begin a new, or at least have it perceived that way since Joe Maturo is certainly not new to the political landscape of East Haven.

There is a lot of work to be done and first things first. I would expect before the end of November that Joe Maturo will deliver on his campaign promise of solving the 3 Police Chief's. I would expect that Acting Chief Guy Nappi will either return to his former role as Inspector or he will turn in his retirement papers. One way or another, Aprils Games are over and whatever you call the current situation at the EHPD, Acting Chief Nappi will not be running the EHPD. That change will be significant because I would also expect the return of Chief Len Gallo. The status of Deputy Chief Mannion is not clear although I would imagine that he eventually will be leaving.

Come February 2012 will be the next significant impact to the EHPD and that is the appointment of two new Police Commissioners. Commissioner Fred Brow and James Krebs terms are up. These two Commissioners are a large part of the problem within the East Haven Police Department and will not be missed. I would expect Joe Maturo to appoint two Republicans to the Commission and the make up of the Board to be 2 Republicans 2 Democrats and 1 Unaffiliated. The two remaining Democrats Jospeh Civitello and Carl Perz I would assume will continue to follow Gene Ruocco ways and vote against moving the department forward. The wild card will be whether or not Frank Piergrossi will play ball with the Democrats or Republicans. Lastly, at least until February 2013 this board will not be in Republican hands and it's not certain who will assume the Chairmanship after Fred Brow's departure.

One thing for sure is that the East Haven Police Department is at the brink and Mayor April, Fred Brow, James Krebs and Patricia CoFrancesco will not be here anymore to inflict more damage. It's time that everyone take a deep breath and begin to heal the wounds inflicted not for just the betterment of the EHPD but the Town as a whole. The Capone Administration has inflicted major negative perceptions of the East Haven Police Department and we all know that the one of the driving forces was Patricia CoFrancesco, Town Attorney. It is a well known fact that CoFrancesco and Mayor April had one mission, to get rid of Chief Len Gallo because they had a vendetta against him. The end result they both lost their jobs and the taxpayers are paying for it and Chief Gallo will be returning at some point. We the people need to send a strong message to Town Hall and say this can never happen again, police work and politics do not mix well.

Joe Maturo needs to take the high road and with grace and dignity restore order to the East Haven Police Department by putting everyone at ease and promise no retailation for those who supported April or Acting Chief Nappe. Following that Joe Maturo needs to let the Police know they can go ahead so do their jobs and not worry about facing retailation. We need our Police to be re-engaged in the job of Police work and not politics. Being that Joe was a public safety employee I know he understands the importance of that role and it's my belief he will restore order.

Another key thing to remember is the importance of resistance. Just 3 months ago there was a large rally outside of Town Hall supporting our East Haven Police Department. If you recall Gene Ruocco, Acting Chief Nappi and the Board of Police Comissioners were very concerned. You had Gene Ruocco calling this a "small insignificant group:, Acting Chief Nappi calling in the State Police and Fred Brow asking me if I was the leader of the group. What we didn't know then was just in a few short months we made a difference by letting the Town know that we had enough and we wanted change. Some got the change they wanted with Joe Maturo, some like me supported John Finkle but despite who was supporting who we certainly didn't support what April Capone was doing. Don't lose your voice! Read, digest and understand what your government is doing and take action when necessary!

The Spoiled Child went too far and has been cast out by the people!

2011-11-10T22:42:00.002-05:00

“We really didn’t think this would turn out this way,” Capone told WTNH-TV News 8, “but at the end of the day, the voters choose the person whose values and work ethic closely resembles theirs, and, you know, that’s their choice, and I respect that, and that’s what makes it a democracy.”

So that is what your Mayor thinks of the people of the Town of East Haven? I don’t find this statement insulting I find it indicative of Mayor April’s behavior since Day 1. She despised Joe Maturo so let me do a little “devil in the details” of what Ms. Capone truly means by this statement.

The word “values” in this statement implies Joe’s outlook on things and his standards. In the 2007 campaign April Capone said Joe Maturo was a liar, implied that he was a thief and corrupt. As for the work ethic she said that Joe abused his office by taking 10 weeks of vacation, played golf and ran the Town like a playboy.

Get it now fellow East Haven residents? This is not the East Haven Vine making these assumptions these are factual words being spoken with real quotes and statements that April Capone has made in the past and the present.

My response to Mayor Capone…..Just who the hell do you think you are? Who are you calling a liar, thief and corrupt? Whose work ethic are you questioning? For those 3,900 people that voted for Joe Maturo I gather you’re just that, not even worthy of anything. You’re too stupid to realize what you did by voting for anyone else but April.

See it now people? You can’t live without “The Queen” being in charge of your life. You need her and her big government ideas to survive. This all from a person from day 1 was the BIGGEST liar of them all. Remember the “Executive” from Verizon Wireless? Yeah right. She sold cell phones and couldn’t even hold on to that job. Remember the line, “I left my position to concentrate on running for Mayor”. While we’ll never truly know the real story the possibilities of what really happened makes a great punch line. Or how about “If you vote for John Finkle he’ll raise your taxes”; then Mayor Capone 5 months later, raised your taxes 17%. Shall I go on because I could make a laundry list of all the lies Mayor April Capone laid on the people of East Haven?

Getting the message now everyone? Now for the work ethic statement she made. I am not a native East Havener. I was born and raised in New York but have spent the majority of my working adult life right here in East Haven and I wouldn’t trade any of these people for anyone! Because I live here in East Haven I know so many people with such a wealth of talent and expertise that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I know a ton of electricians, a few plumbers, fencing guys, oil company owners, AT&T workers, Builders, Fire Fighters, Police, Sanitation, Public Works amongst many others who I am proud to call my friends, my neighbors and my family. Some of these people that the Mayor is referring to are the very people that built my home and later expanded it. I have two college degrees but am an idiot with a hammer and nails and couldn't even build a bird house without instructions. Well, I think I could do it but hang in there with me I’m trying to lay out a point!

These people who voted for the other guy and not The Queen have more ethics in the dirt under their working fingers than Mayor Capone ever could imagine. These men and women are the back bone of our working class community that Mayor Capone slapped continually in the face until they couldn’t take it anymore. Hopefully Saturday we will hear the beginning of the last of her. Again Mayor Capone just who the hell do you think you are?

So as the final counts are being drawn on Saturday morning and you are hopefully out the door, this East Haven resident won’t use a back handed remark to imply stupidity but direct words. Mayor April Capone win or lose Saturday you are by far the most incompetent Mayor this Town has ever seen. You are the most disingenuous person I have ever met and I for one am glad you and your three ring circus will be forever leaving this Town.

How’s that for telling it like it is Mayor April?

A Maturo Victory sounds a stinging rebuke to Capone and her policies

2011-11-09T06:11:00.000-05:00

Well it's not quite over just yet. A Saturday recount of electronic machines which are not supposed to fail should deliver the "change" that East Haveners sought last night. If all goes the way of Joe Maturo he will be back as East Haven's Mayor. Is this the change we really needed? Only Joe Maturo can answer that question and a lot is going to depend on the person himself. Joe should be proud of himself for accomplishing what I thought he couldn't do and reclaim the office of Mayor. Now like in 2007 when April Capone took office is his time to shine but it's going to take a lot of hard work and no politics to fix many of East Haven's problems. Immediately I see three things changing for the better.

1) The East Haven Police Department. Since the day April Capone rose her hand and took office she declared war on Chief Len Gallo. She was waiting and waiting and finally took her shot and placed him on paid Administrative Leave. This situation has been going on for over 19 months and by Thanksgiving I expect that Joe Maturo will return Chief Gallo and the EHPD can begin to heal the deep wounds that April Capone caused.

2) Economic Development. There is no doubt that Joe Maturo's election will send a positive ripple effect throughout the business community. April Capone's policies were a COMPLETE failure. This thread showed, April was asleep at the wheel and had over 78 vacant store fronts. Joe Maturo's Administration brought in Home Depot, Car Max and several other businesses and they will not make idiotic statements like April did in saying giving tax incentives to come to East Haven was a mistake.

3) East Haven's Image. From the moment April took office there were a slew of media and cameras everywhere and the Theatre major was in love with seeing herself all over the news. Press conferences, photo ops and every waking moment trying to give herself stature was in itself repulsive and not what this Town needed. East Haven is not Hartford, Bridgeport or New Haven. We are a working class Town of people who don't want their Town all over the news. We don't like the fame, the negative press and most of all our Mayor trying to make a name for themselves. I certainly look forward to the destruction of the mobile podium and restoring East Haven back to it's humble roots.

Many people have asked me personally if I supported Joe and what will happen to the Vine if he should win. The answer is no I did not and the East Haven Vine is going nowhere. If anything the East Haven Vine has exposed many things that were happening in Town Hall and a Joe Maturo Administration will face the same scrutiny. While this is not official until Saturday it seems the people of East Haven have spoken and finally the Queen is leaving the throne. AMEN!

Stay Tuned

Let see what Joe Maturo is made of. Can he really commit to REAL CHANGE and bring East Haven back from the Brink?

2011-09-24T08:46:00.000-04:00

So this week my emails have been burning up with people telling me that I need to come around for the cause. "You've got to support Joe because anything is better than April Capone." Yeah Yeah Yeah. I'm sorry, even though I was born and raised in New York and spent most of my adult life in East Haven I still have the Missouri attitude of "Show Me".

So let’s give Joe the chance to show what he's going to do differently than our current disaster of a Mayor. I'd like to see exactly why this resident and taxpayer should change their stance and throw support behind Joe Maturo.

Here are some of the most important campaign issues that the people of East Haven have raised to me.

Economic Development. What are Joe Maturo's ideas and plans to right the ship and make the Town of East Haven a thriving force? Hint, we don't want to hear, "When Joe was Mayor, things were great. That was then this is now. It's obvious that Capone's idea is to hire a Part Time inexperienced novice to handle this important position. We need to know the plan, the timeline and expectations.
Police Department. Both April and Joe have done their fair share of wrecking our Police Department. However, to be fair April has done the most. What will Joe Maturo do to solve this problem and if he does prevail as Mayor? Will Maturo make a promise and commitment to a non-retaliatory policy for those remaining Police personnel that helped force him from office in 2007? It seems that our PD is the emotional trigger point for both Mayors and they just can't help themselves from trying to run the Department. Will a Joe Maturo Administration restore the DARE program, School Resource Officer, DUI Checkpoints on Main Street and a Community Officer to the Shore? Will a Maturo Administration make the commitment to uphold the law and process illegal aliens that use our resources and drain our tax base? Simply put will a Maturo Administration come out publically and say "I support the East Haven Police Department and will commit to bring stability and pride back!"
Charter Revision. Both Capone and Maturo have promised Charter revision but neither have ever lifted a finger to update our Charter. Is a Joe Maturo Administration committed to ending nepotism, corruption and make the Tax Payer first? John Finkle was committed to instituting major and drastic changes where all Town Employees would have to disclose any relationship with any vendors that do business with the Town of East Haven. Finkle was also committed to creating a civilian review board to review all non-civil service positions to make sure that political appointments and favors would stop. Our Public Works Department and key positions in Town Hall are plagued with this nepotism problem. Ralph Mauro, the Mayor's Deputy Assistant, has hired many family members for example and Mayor Capone could care less.
Taxes. What will a Joe Maturo Administration do to reverse the 17% tax increase April Capone laid on us after she said if you elect John Finkle he'll raise your taxes? What is Maturo's plan to reel in the deficit this Town is running? What is Maturo's plan to put the brakes on excessive bonding while still making sure the infrastructure remains intact? What type of tax policies will Maturo institute to mend this dysfunctional finance department?
Change. Are the people of East Haven going to see a different Joe Maturo on the campaign trail and then the switch back to 2007 Joe? Will Joe Maturo commit REAL change by making the commitment that he will not hire any former employees back into positions and that all of the positions will follow the guidelines of Charter Revision? I do know one thing that there was over 4000 people in 2007 that said Joe's games were enough and it's time to leave. To reverse that and show people that you're serious about change is a daunting task that Joe really hasn't really shown yet in this campaign.

These 5 topics are a good start for me and those who supported REAL change and would demonstrate that the Old Joe Maturo would not resurface. It's very simple Joe, demonstrate you're a different person and make us believe that you are committed to REAL CHANGE and maybe you could help move the needle in your favor. We will be eagerly awaiting a response to see if you really represent the people of East Haven.

Either with Maturo or Capone the Taxpayers are the real losers

2011-09-13T16:01:00.002-04:00

I decided to not to publicize any article until I positively knew the outcome of whether Joe Maturo would secure the Republican nomination after John Finkle decided not to continue his bid to become East Haven's next Mayor. I also thought it would be best not to inject any politics during Hurricane Irene which many of my fellow District 2 members lost everything they had. But with anything it's time to get back into the circle.

After Joe Maturo held his breath, pouted and turned a shade blue he finally got what he wanted but not by any choice of the Town Committee. At the July Republican Town Committee Joe Maturo was defeated by John Finkle 38-22 and instead of having the courage of continuing his case by having a primary Joe decided to bolt the Republican Party to form the "Better Government Party." That in itself is a bigger joke than him returning to the political circles. Whenever Joe Maturo is involved with anything political there in nothing good about it. The residents of East Haven will turn back the clock and just see different faces but the same ole motto of arogance, vendetta and smug politics.

I usually have some type of solution to offer but in this one we have two candidates that are not worthy of any votes and for the first time ever I think I am going to write in a name on a ballot and that will be John Finkle. It's a protest against Joe Maturo for him spiltting the Republican Party and for the possibility of another term of Capone.

It's truly sad that the people of East Haven really don't get the change they deserve but maybe with an organzied effort and plenty of ink John Finkle could make a difference as the people get their voices heard.