Courant.com
Let’s End Madness In Madison
Stan Simpson
February 2, 2008
“It’s a business …. doing pleasure with you.”
OK, OK, I’ve got another one: How do you further reduce the almost nonexistent crime rate in quiet, affluent Madison?
Fire all the police officers.
I’ve got more, but I suspect this isn’t going over well with the good cops in the MPD or the 18,000 residents of this shoreline community, known for its tranquility and prosperity. Seems like the only ones raising a ruckus around here are the cops. Four of the 26 have been fired in recent months. A fifth may be fired soon. And there could be more to come.
The on- and off-duty misbehavior includes patronizing prostitutes, cavorting with felons, witness tampering and workers’ compensation fraud. Another officer had resigned in 2003 after being accused of having sex with a teenager while on duty.
Before that, four officers were suspended for alleged sexual high jinks at a stag party. The low light of that night 10 years ago was a Madison police detective with his pants around his ankles being serviced by a prostitute.
There were no town homicides, rapes or aggravated assaults in 2006. There was, however, a spate of burglaries. The perpetrator? You guessed it. A veteran Madison police officer, making over $100,000 in salary, broke into local restaurants at night and stole about $900 worth of lobster.
“The police department has never been one of our most shining departments,” newly elected First Selectman Alfred Goldberg said. “Residents take a great deal of pride in this town, but the police department doesn’t make anyone’s top 3 list. We’ve had many fine officers here, but the culture is not what it should have been.”
The problems evolved from 1992, when Dennis J. Anziano, who was then the police chief, was fired. He was later charged by state police with misusing Madison’s tax-exempt status for personal use. Four years later, a consulting firm assessing the department found a force handcuffed by weak leadership and allegations of unethical behavior. Consultant Thompson S. Crockett wrote in 1997: “Fortunately, nothing has gone wrong of significant magnitude to severely embarrass the department or town. … But it’s only a matter of time.”
Ten years later, this is the pulse on the Madison sidewalks:
“It’s embarrassing” said Lyn Greenwood, a mother of two adult children. “Corruption in a police department is shocking, no matter where it is. We as parents are asking our kids to have certain standards — and kids are hypersensitive to hypocrisy.”
Frank Proto hears the chatter at his Head Start Barber Shop, particularly from the cops who aren’t causing the problems. “They’re the ones that are suffering the most,” he said. “A few of them come by to get their haircuts, and they feel embarrassed. They feel that everyone feels that everyone [in the police department] is bad.”
Madison doesn’t need yet another consultant’s report to state the obvious. The leadership in the police department is poor, the internal training is insufficient, and the hiring and promotion procedures need revamping.
A sweep of the bad apples and the department’s top commanders is the only way for Madison to restore public confidence.
Start with Police Chief Paul D. Jakubson, a 34-year veteran, who has been chief for 11 years. The department needs a new voice at the top.
Under Jakubson’s watch, it has become a bad joke.
EDITORS NOTE: I came across another Topix Forum that shares different views on the recent release of the Cheshire 911 Police Log regarding the Petit Home Invasion.
These are some opinions by different people. Cindy Kleists stance: I TOTALLY support the actions of the Cheshire Police Department. They acted correctly. And I feel sorry for Cheshire and Madison. They have good police officers and it is a shame!!
