Until Blumenthal's final report is issued, the commission chair has asked that commissioners refrain from making public comments about the fund in case the panel is forced to consider disciplinary action against the chief.

“I just want us all to be careful not to overstep our bounds,” chairwoman Christina Burnham said, adding that she didn't want any of the commissioners to “prejudice” themselves.

For 35 years, Mosca administered the fund — commonly referred to as the Mac Fund — with no public oversight. Mosca recently turned over thousands of pages of Mac Fund documents after the state Freedom of Information Commission ruled that the fund was public, not private, as Mosca had claimed. Blumenthal's office is investigating whether the fund was improperly administered and is conducting a forensic audit.

Approximately 30 people packed the commission meeting Monday night and demanded that commissioners hear their concerns about the fund. Members of the public said they did not feel the commission had gone far enough in requesting a copy of the attorney general's completed investigation, which could take weeks or months to complete.

Some asked that while the investigation continues, the commission take control of the fund. Others suggested the commission launch its own investigation into the fund. Others asked that commissioners who have accepted money from the Mac Fund recuse themselves from any action related to the fund.

“Wouldn't it have been so much easier if for these 30 years everything would have been documented and gone through the police commission?” asked Old Saybrook resident Gloria Cahill.

Documents show that Mosca accepted donations from the public, placed them in the Mac Fund and used the money in part to finance his travel to events with police chiefs' associations and as a way to fete visiting chiefs and their wives.

Documents also show that the Mac Fund paid for Police Commissioner Timothy Conklin's travel expenses in December 2006 when he and Mosca traveled to Virginia together to attend a ceremony for Lt. Michael Spera, who had completed an FBI training course.

Commissioners Conklin, Ernest Speraco and David Gallicchio did not attend Monday night's meeting.

Lt. Michael Spera said the police commission is the only body with the authority to take action against the chief of police. Spera would not comment on the Mac Fund, saying that the commission had yet to define it as a police matter.

Chairwoman Burnham warned the commission against taking action, saying that it had still not seen a completed investigation. She also said that while the FOI Commission ruled the fund was public, it had not ruled that the fund was municipal.

At least one audience member disagreed.

“I know of officers in other towns who have been put on paid administrative leave while investigations are being done with a lot less serious allegations against them. I'll just leave that out there to hang,” said former Old Saybrook Police Lt. Clifford E. Barrows, who left the department last March.

The Mac Fund was not on the commission's agenda Monday night, but commissioners spoke about the fund under an agenda item called “Comments and Concerns of Commissioners.” Because comments from the public came before that agenda item, commissioners refused to answer questions about the fund. Eventually, at the request of Old Saybrook resident and State Police Detective Lt. Robert Keihm, the commission voted to allow public comment at the end of the agenda so that members of the public could ask questions of the commission.

Mosca did not attend the meeting because he is on vacation in Florida.