Stonington Suspends Officer For Leaving Homeless Man In New London

By Joe Wojtas
Published on 11/5/2008 in TheDay.com

Stonington- Police Chief J. Darren Stewart has suspended veteran officer Randy Holt four days without pay for leaving town without his supervisor's permission so he could drive a homeless man to New London.

A New London police officer spotted Holt dropping the 56-year-old man off on Colman Street just past midnight on Sept. 22. New London police, who later took the man to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, complained that Holt dropped off the man after he showed signs of mental illness.

An internal investigation, released by Stonington police Tuesday, found that Holt was also neglectful, inefficient and inattentive to his duties and failed to maintain good will with the public.

Holt said Tuesday that he feels bad the incident hurt the reputation of his department and the profession and caused New London residents to feel that he did not care about their city.

”I've spent 20 years in this job trying to help people. Looking back, I wish I had done a little more for this guy,” he said, adding that many times in his career he has given money to needy people he meets on the job.

The incident began when police received a call from the Chucky's Sunoco in Pawcatuck that a man had stolen a lighter and some cigars. Holt arrived and found the man. Police recovered the stolen items, but the owner did not want to press charges. Under questioning for the internal investigation, Holt said the man was “rambling about the World Trade Center and being at war.” The man told Holt he was trying to get to New York where his brother lives.

At that point, Holt called the station to speak to Sgt. Bryan Schneider, who was his supervisor at the time. Before Holt could explain the situation, Schneider had to hang up because a woman in the cell area was choking on her vomit. A short time after that, Holt radioed in to the dispatch center.

”Hey Paula,” he told dispatcher Paula Singer. “I'm on a transport over to, ah, Groton, well probably it will be New London by the time it gets done.”

”Well, OK,” she said.

”Just (inaudible) he was transported. That's all,” Holt said.

”Very good. Very good,” she said.

Holt told Capt. Jerry Desmond, who conducted the internal investigation, that he brought the man to Colman Street because he was trying to get on and off the highway quickly and he knew there were businesses open in the area, such as McDonald's and Burger King, where he might be able to get a handout. Holt said he had asked the man if he wanted to go to the hospital or a shelter, but the man said no. Holt said the man complimented him for the way he was treated by Stonington police.

Holt said that when he dropped off the man near the No Where Cafe, New London officer Thomas Lawton pulled up in his cruiser. Holt said he told Lawton the man was not a threat to himself or anyone else and was trying to get to New York.

According to Lawton's report, Holt said, “We don't need him in Stonington. He would be better off in New London.”

Holt said he does not recall making the first half of the comment, but did say the man would be better off in New London because it has shelters, a hospital and bus station. Questioned by Desmond, Lawton said it was hard to tell if Holt was serious or joking when he made the alleged comment.

New London police later brought the man to the hospital, where he became combative and had to be restrained. New London police called Schneider that night to find out why the man was left in their city, and Schneider apologized.

Documents released by police deleted the man's name. Police, who have talked to the man's family in Ashaway, R.I., have been unable to locate him.

While interviewing Holt, Desmond said, “You mentioned that you might have done things differently in hindsight.”

”In thinking back, I would have brought him to the train or bus station,” Holt responded. “I may have also given him some money to help him as I have done for others in the past.”

In the conclusion to his investigation, Desmond wrote that Holt failed to take steps to ensure the man would be all right or to contact his family, and left him with no money in an area with which he was unfamiliar.

He wrote that Holt's decision to leave town without permission left his supervisor “uninformed and assuming certain coverage was in effect.”

Mike Lewis, a police union official, said Holt will appeal the suspension, which he called “unjust based on the evidence.”

”He did call his supervisor to get permission, but his supervisor was too busy to talk to him. What was he supposed to do? Drive around with a homeless guy in his car? He felt he did what he needed to do. The person was no worse off after he found him. He was either going to be homeless in New London or in Stonington,” Lewis said. “This person wanted to get to New York, and he got him closer.

Lewis said Holt could not force the man to go to a shelter or hospital. He said Holt tried to get permission to leave and contacted the dispatch center when he did.

He said Holt is being made a scapegoat even though other officers had dealt with the man that day.

”I think on the face of it, it looks embarrassing for Stonington. They're looking for someone to take the blame They're forcing someone to predict what someone will do, and they're doing it with 20-20 hindsight,” he said.