Phil Helsel, Register Staff 06/17/2005
MILFORD — The long battle of embattled city police Officer Mona Lucas for a non-service connected disability pension is over.
The city’s Pension and Retirement Board voted Thursday night to give her a $25,000-a-year pension.
After discussing confidential medical reports from two doctors for about 15 minutes behind closed doors, the board voted 10-3, with Chairman Joseph Sartor abstaining, to give Lucas a disability pension. Board members Scott Willey, Richard Elwell and Scott Firmender voted against it.
Lucas sought the pension as she was facing a termination hearing for allegedly tipping off a suspect through a third party that he was about to be arrested.
She has been reprimanded for falsifying records, lying to investigators, and for allegedly steering department towing business to certain establishments in return for favors.
Of the three dissenters, Willey was the most vocal in his opposition. He said that in any other profession Lucas would have been fired outright. He also criticized the city for making what he termed a "backroom deal" with Lucas over the pension.
"This was not a disability until the employee faced termination and faced breaking the law (by allegedly tipping off a suspect)," Willey said. "It was a backroom deal cut between her very aggressive lawyer and the city. I think it’s important for our Police Department to be able to fire incompetent people without paying them off."
Other board members disagreed and said that the police union contract entitles Lucas to her pension. Although Lucas’ medical condition was discussed in executive session, Elwell said Thursday that the 14-year police veteran claimed to suffer from anxiety disorder.
According to City Attorney Marilyn Lipton, the opinion of two independent doctors found that Lucas’ disability makes her unfit to continue her duties as a police officer.
"I think the reports confirmed that Officer Lucas was permanently disabled from performing her duties," Lipton said after the meeting. "They (the board) followed the contract."
Board member Alan Lynn echoed that sentiment saying it was not the board’s responsibility to judge Lucas’ alleged misconduct.
"Our job here is to make sure the contract is followed," he said. "Our job is not to decide whether or not the police should have fired her."
In March, Lucas submitted a doctor’s letter that said she could suffer some type of mental harm if she continues with her duties. Lucas, wife of city police Capt. Christopher Edson, faced possible termination at the hands of the Board of Police Commissioners but that board voted in February to allow Lucas to seek a disability pension instead of proceeding with a termination hearing.
Police union President Jeffrey Matchett, a voting member on the pension board, had little to say about the outcome Thursday night. He said it was a fair decision and that he was glad it has reached a conclusion.
İNew Haven Register 2005