New Haven officers have 'no-confidence' in chief

New Haven - WTNH
Jan. 27, 2005 Updated 10:25 PM

New Haven police officers have spoken out against their leader. Officers overwhelmingly gave a vote of "no confidence" against Chief Francisco Ortiz. So what does this mean for the days ahead in the department?

by News Channel 8's Michael Herzenberg

Union members say they want city hall to listen to their problems and they want officials do something about them.

By a vote of 221 to 37, New Haven's police union says it has no confidence in Chief Ortiz.

"It sends a devestating message over to city hall, the mayor and to the chief himself. It's overwhelming that there is a certain problem within this police department within the rank and file," says police union president Louis Cavalier.

Chief Ortiz has been New Haven's top cop since 2003. Union members say chief didn't support the police officers enough after more than a half dozen shootings by officers in the last year, two of which were fatal.

"But there's the other issues of morale, the transfers where you get the piece of paper in the mailbox, a week later you're transferred. You need face to face contact. He's the chief of police. We deserve that," says

About the vote Thursday, Chief Ortiz tells News Channel 8 in a statement "It is what we were expecting. We're not surprised by the outcome. We're going to listen to the concerns of the officers ... and will work with the union ... moving the department forward."

"The chief and I and the assistant chief (Bryan Norwood) talked today about this vote," said Mayor John DeStefano. "I don't think we had any illusion about how the vote was going to go."

Mayor DeStefano says he remains confident in the chief's ability to lead the department.

"The chief has another year left in his contract. Does that play into this at all?"
"No, it doesn't. I took this as an expression the rank and file are concerned about the way some things have been handled. I said the other day and I'll say it now; if I had to appoint the chief all over again I'd do it now because he's talented, skilled in his job and all things being equal if I get a another term appoint him again."

The mayor says he'll bring people together in the next couple weeks. The chief say he will take into account the concerns of the union members. This is exactly what the union say it is hoping.