For the second time this year, some Danbury police officers have lashed out at the department's promotion process.
At issue this time is the deputy chief's post — the No. 2 job in the department.
Lt. Jeffrey Lagarto wants it. He's been told he can't have it because he lacks a bachelor's degree. But two other lieutenants without degrees are being allowed to contend for the post.
"They not only changed the rules (to require a bachelor's degree), but they are not following their own rules," Lagarto said of the Civil Service Commission.
The commission said the two other men have experience, education and training that is comparable to a degree. A fourth candidate does have two college degrees.
The Danbury Police Union filed a complaint with the city. To union leaders, the issue is not just Lagarto, a 17-year veteran. Their focus is on eligibility rules being changed midstream and increased distrust in the Civil Service Commission, which makes key personnel decisions for the city.
Earlier this year, Lance Brevard, a black police officer seeking promotion to sergeant, complained the Civil Service Commission failed to place a minority member on a committee testing the candidates.
The minority member was mandated by a settlement of a lawsuit brought by black officers in the mid-1990s.
"It's obvious something is broken," Danbury Police Officer Mike Georgoulis, vice president of the union, said of the Civil Service Commission. "This has been a banner year for problems in promotions. I don't know if it's possible to get fairness back in this."
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
