Westbrook suspends constables for response to drowning

Monday, November 3, 2008 9:56 PM EST
By AMANDA PINTO, Journal Register News Service

WESTBROOK — Selectmen took no action Monday on the state police investigation of two constables suspended last week in connection with their response before a 68-year-old woman was found drowned in June.

Gabriel Jiran, a town attorney, said after the special selectmen’s meeting Monday that action may be taken, but it is still early in the process.

First Selectman Noel Bishop said he did not know when selectmen would meet again on the issue.

There was no vote to send the meeting, conducted behind closed doors, into executive session. Public session did not resume before the meeting ended.

The New Haven Register is submitting a Freedom of Information Act request for the investigation report.

The investigation began after Elsie White, 68, of Westbrook was found dead on a beach near Old Kelsey Point Road the morning of June 19.

Constables Rhea Milardo and Robert Powers are the subject of a probe to determine whether they displayed a "lack of urgency" in responding to a call to check on the woman, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Milardo and Powers were assigned to another part of town when Kimberly Bratz, Westbrook’s tax collector, asked that White, who was walking in the rain, be checked on, the source said. White was found dead the next day.

Milardo and Powers were suspended with pay Thursday.

Bishop has said the investigation is ongoing. He said he could not speak about the investigation or the way the incident was handled by the constables.

Bratz and Milardo have not returned phone calls. Powers could not be reached Friday.

Ronald Suraci, the president of the United Public Service Employees Union/COPS Division, to which the constables belong, said he has not yet seen the internal affairs report.

Suraci said he could not comment further.

Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman, confirmed that a commander at Troop F in Westbrook ordered an internal affairs investigation be initiated a few days after the incident. Vance has said he cannot be more specific about the nature of the call or response.

He added that any disciplinary action would be determined by the town, since constables are town employees.

Westbrook has nine part-time constables and three state troopers.

Amanda Pinto can be reached at apinto@nhregister.com or (203) 789-5734.