NHPD Police commissioners set a date to debate the fate of Detective Jose Silva (pictured), who pleaded guiltyto violating a man's civil rights by colluding in a drug-planting scheme at a Truman Street home.New Haven Independent: Termination Hearing Set
by Melissa Bailey | October 9, 2007
NHPD Police commissioners set a date to debate the fate of Detective Jose Silva (pictured), who pleaded guiltyto violating a man's civil rights by colluding in a drug-planting scheme at a Truman Street home.
The commissioners set the date after meeting behind closed doors Tuesday morning to discuss the detective's misconduct.
Silva, 36, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport last week to one count of a misdemeanor civil rights violation for writing the report on a drug raid where a man was framed for having drugs on his person. He admitted to watching his former colleague, then-detective Justen Kasperzyk, move drugs from a basement into a suspect's bedroom, place them on the dresser by the man's ID, then arrest the man. Silva admitted he knew the drugs had been planted, but covered up the scheme in his report.
The detective was placed on paid leave Friday and forced to give up his badge, gun and department ID. His arrest is the third in an FBI corruption probeinto the dissolved police narcotics unit, whose head, former Lt. Billy White, was taken down on theft and bribery charges. More arrests are expected.
The Board of Police Commissioners held its special meeting in executive session at police headquarters Tuesday. The chief has recommended termination, but the final decision lies with the board. Commissioners set a termination hearing for Monday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m.
Did the chair of the board, Rick Epstein, have doubts over whether the detective should be dismissed? "I'm an impartial judge," he said, with an obligation to come to the meeting with an open mind, hear evidence, and make a decision.
But "clearly what we've seen in public has been a strong indictment," Epstein added.
Silva was charged with a misdemeanor, a level of offense that would not automatically knock someone off the force. The fact that it is a federal civil rights charge adds significant weight, and related conduct may be considered: In his plea Silva also admitted to pocketing $500 in money seized from a drug raid on a Fillmore Street home. The money, he admitted, was slipped into his pocket by Kasperzyk as a "surprise."
Kasperzyk, who has already been terminated, also pleaded guilty Friday, to felony civil rights charge for planting drugs, and a misdemeanor charge for stealing $360 government funds that the FBI had planted in a fake drug scene in a city motel.
Troop Surge
In other BOPC news, the board approved two new hires to the Yale police force. And Police Chief Ortiz detailed an upcoming influx of officers onto patrol beats. Within the next few days, 50 percent of non-patrol officers, such as detectives with desk jobs, will be shifted to patrol, said Ortiz. That adds up to 20 more officers on patrol, plus 26 rookies from a police class that just graduated.
Meanwhile, the PD is working on promoting others into vacant ranking positions. Part one of the lieutenant's test was given last week. Seven vacancies for sergeants are expected to be filled in the next six or seven weeks, said Ortiz.
And the long list of 919 applicants who came out of the latest recruitment drive will begin to be whittled down, starting with an agility test given this week, then a written test on Nov. 4 and an oral test on Dec. 5, according to police department staff.