07/22/2008
Remarks conflict with police board actions in Madison?
Letter to the Editor
It is natural for one to be skeptical of a father's appraisal of his son; however, please hear my heart. I speak on behalf of Officer Daniel Hedges, Madison Police Department, my son.
For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, there has been a public attempt to defame his character. To my knowledge, he has never been officially interviewed and has chosen to not speak on his behalf at this time.
I was permitted to sit quietly with his wife in a hearing that was geared toward a firing. Sitting in disbelief, I finally heard a great truth. The lieutenant who was the prosecution's witness declaring Daniel to be someone to fear, ended with, "Everybody likes Dan." Amazing contradiction and so true.
Another blessing awaited outside. A brief and pleasant exchange I had with the town attorney and the chairman of the police commission yielded a comment from the chairman: "I believe your son is a good man." Why did those people deliberately contrive to defame the character and destroy the career of a good man that everybody likes?
None of the accusations bear any truthful foundation.

Hugh Hedges
New Haven

Editor's note: Daniel Hedges was fired in May as a Madison police officer for conduct that included allegedly threatening the lives of superior officers.


İNew Haven Register 2008