Marissa Yaremich, Register Staff 03/10/2005
WEST HAVEN — John McDonough, who pleaded guilty to a gambling-related felony in late 2004, will not be joining the city’s other emergency dispatchers in training on a system that accesses confidential state police databases.
Mary T. Devlin, 911 chief communicator, confirmed Wednesday that McDonough will not attend training despite an internal memo she issued Feb. 14.
"Since then, it’s been changed," Devlin said of the memo, obtained by the New Haven Register. "He’s not scheduled for that class."
On Dec. 2, McDonough, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiring to conduct illegal gambling businesses with the Patriarca organized-crime family from 1997 through March 2000.
According to Devlin’s memo to Police Sgt. Eric Pimer, McDonough and the other nine dispatchers were each assigned to attend one of two training classes this month to be certified in the Connecticut Online Law Enforcement Communication Teleprocessing Systems.
The training is in preparation for a merger of all 911 dispatchers in police headquarters by June.
The COLLECT system, explained state police Sgt. J. Paul Vance, provides access to sensitive data, including motor vehicle information, individual criminal histories, driver’s licenses and warrants.
According to police officials, only those who are COLLECT-certified can view the screens, which could cause a problem for McDonough since he wouldn’t be allowed to work next to someone connected to COLLECT.
McDonough, who wasn’t suspended or fired for his criminal involvement, originally was listed to take the course March 29-31.
Deputy Police Chief Ronald M. Quagliani said McDonough was taken off the class list when police ran criminal background checks, required by state police, on each dispatcher.
"He did not pass the background check, so he became ineligible," Quagliani said.
McDonough could not be reached for comment on his being taken off the list or on whether it will force him to resign his post.
Whether being disqualified for training will cost McDonough his job, would be up to the 911 dispatchers’ managers, said the dispatchers’ union representative, Katy Vecellio.
West Haven Fire Department Chief William S. Johnson, who oversees the 911 dispatchers, is recovering from surgery and could not be reached for comment.
Deputy Fire Chief William Abbott declined to extensively comment. However, he said the union contract entitles McDonough to a hearing with Johnson.
Vecellio said she has yet to be notified of a hearing date. By contract, McDonough is an employee of West Haven’s three fire districts, so the city cannot fire him, she said.
Once dispatch is in police headquarters, Quagliani said a disciplinary board will be established, made up of the city personnel director and three each of the police and fire commissioners.
Marissa Yaremich can be reached at myaremich@nhregister.comor at 789-5742.
İNew Haven Register 2005