By M. MATTHEW CLARK
Published on 10/2/2008
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal hopes to finish his investigation into the Mac Fund - a once-hidden spending account controlled by Old Saybrook Chief of Police Edmund Mosca - by the end of the month.
Blumenthal said in July that he had expected his investigation to conclude by the end of summer, but in a phone interview Wednesday said the inquiry is still “active and ongoing.”
”There's a lot of material, and we want to review it responsibly to make recommendations and to potentially take action,” Blumenthal said.
As for what specific actions could be taken, the attorney general said there are “various potential outcomes, which involve seeking money back for the funds, or changing the practices and policies of the fund, among others.”
Blumenthal said his investigation has primarily focused on whether or not Mosca misused the fund, which was started in 1972 as a charitable account in the honor of a deceased Old Saybrook police officer.
Blumenthal said that Mosca and others who were involved in the Mac Fund have cooperated in the investigation.
Financial documents that were made public in March after resident Mary Hansen appealed to the state Freedom of Information Commission revealed that Mosca used the fund to pay for a wide range of things, from $10,000 for a retirement party for former Deputy Chief Thomas O'Brien to $5,000 for “dress blouses and matching pants” for the department.
Besides the attorney general's investigation, Mosca is being sued by the Old Saybrook Police Union, which has charged that the chief, his executive assistant O'Brien and local attorney William Childress engaged in mail fraud, racketeering, theft and money laundering.
In the federal civil suit, the union alleged Mosca diverted a $64,000 bequest from the estate of Helene Banta, of Essex, to the Mac Fund, that was meant for the Old Saybrook Police Brotherhood Association.
Mosca, who has never spoken to the press about the fund or the investigation, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. His attorney, Christopher Russo, declined to comment.
MM.CLARK@THEDAY.COM