DeStefano supports police chief

01/26/2005

DeStefano supports police chief

William Kaempffer , Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — Whatever the outcome of Thursday’s "no confidence" vote, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. Tuesday pledged his support to the police chief. Chief Francisco Ortiz returned to New Haven Tuesday as the rank-and-file prepared to vote on whether it has confidence in Ortiz’s leadership.

"At the end of the day, the chief enjoys the support of the mayor and the community itself," DeStefano said.

DeStefano named Ortiz chief in June 2003 to finish out retiring Chief Melvin Wearing’s term.

"If I had that appointment to make all over again, I’d make it in a minute," DeStefano said.

Inside the police department, many officers had been waiting to hear the mayor’s take.

Political insiders and department members have long believed, despite proclamations to the contrary, that Ortiz wasn’t the mayor’s first choice and that Ortiz might be on the way out.

But DeStefano Tuesday said that not only is he satisfied with Ortiz, he would reappoint Ortiz next February, "all things being equal."

Ortiz has been blasted by officers over his managerial style, a number of transfers he made and a belief that he didn’t support his officers after a series of police-involved shootings last year.

The way the mayor sees it, Ortiz is in a tough spot — wedged between segments of the community that are outraged at the shootings and police officers that demand his support.

The mayor said the community has some "legitimate questions" about the actions of police and that makes it prudent to examine police tactics and training.

"On the other side of that, police officers are due the benefit of the doubt," DeStefano said.

As far as the vote goes, DeStefano said he would prefer that it didn’t happen but was resigned to it. Most police officers recognize, he said, that a vote of no confidence doesn’t mean there will be a change in leadership.

"I take it as an expression of concern and we’ll deal with it that way. Something to take note of, acknowledge, deal with and move on," the mayor said.

That’s not to say there aren’t problems, DeStefano said.

DeStefano acknowledged that some of concerns need to be addressed and that Ortiz would have to make some adjustments of his own.

Inside the department, some officers complained that the chief would make transfers on Friday afternoons without giving officers the courtesy of telling them to their face.

"There are concerns about how some of those moves get made," DeStefano said. "You have to respect people, explain why you’re doing things."

And the mayor acknowledged that the tensions between the chief and Assistant Chief Bryan Norwood need to be addressed.

"I think they need a better relationship," he said.

But DeStefano said talk of a sour relationship between him and the chief are overblown.

Aldermen in the city said Ortiz told them he received an ultimatum because of his initial support for a task force for the shootings.

Did the mayor have an issue with the chief after he entered discussions with the Board of Aldermen about a task force the mayor opposed? Yes, he said.

"Was it like an ultimatum that ‘you’re going to be fired?’ No." DeStefano said. "But I sure did express concerns to the chief about that."

But that’s water under the bridge, he said.

In the end, the mayor said, relationships in the department need time to heal, but he is confident that’s possible.