By Karen Florin
Published on 1/23/2009 in TheDay.com
William R. Edwards Sr., a well-known New London police officer, has been charged with sexually assaulting a young child and suspended from the force.
State police charged Edwards, 45, with third-degree sexual assault for allegedly compelling another person to submit to sexual contact by use of force. He also was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, tampering with a witness and two counts of risk of injury to a minor.
Edwards was booked at the state police Troop E barracks in Montville early Thursday and appeared in Norwich Superior Court at about noon. He is free on $100,000 bond and is forbidden from having contact with the alleged victim, a 12-year-old boy. The Day does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.
Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed also ordered Edwards to cooperate with The Family Institute, a Hartford psychiatric institution.
According to the arrest warrant, Edwards did not deny the sexual assault allegation and admitted that he engaged in “inappropriate behavior” with the victim about four or five years ago during a “dark period” in his life.
Edwards, the warrant stated, became increasingly despondent during an interview with police Dec. 3 at Troop E. Detectives determined he was a threat to himself and took him to The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich to be evaluated. Edwards admitted to the detectives that he had been depressed for years and had a substance-abuse problem.
His estranged wife, who was interviewed during the investigation, told police her husband had been using cocaine and that he threatened to shoot himself in the head if he was arrested and the charges appeared in the news media.
New London Police Chief Bruce Rinehart suspended Edwards without pay Thursday following his arrest.
The suspension was effective immediately, Rinehart said, and will remain in effect until the resolution of the court case. Because Edwards was hospitalized, Rinehart was unable to suspend Edwards until he was arrested.
The chief and New London police Capt. Margaret Ackley met Edwards at Troop E to formally suspend him.
“It's an unfortunate thing,'' Rinehart said. “Law enforcement is one big family, and when these things happen to our brothers and sisters, these things affect us all.''
He said the department is also conducting an internal investigation.
Edwards, wearing a blue button-down shirt and tan slacks, appeared in court with his brother, former city police Capt. Kenneth W. Edwards, and defense attorney Paul Guernsey. He seemed calm as he stood before the judge. His case will be heard in Windham County, since he and his family are so well known in New London County. His next court date is Feb. 11 in Danielson Superior Court.
The arrest warrant detailing the charges portrays a different Edwards than the 20-year police veteran who tirelessly worked with community groups, including children, business owners, the elderly and neighborhood alliances.
Edwards, a lifelong city resident, told state police he has been depressed “since 1967” (when he was 4 years old), and his wife told investigators he had sought inpatient treatment for a cocaine addiction. Edwards has been married since 1987 and has two children. Court records indicate that Deutsche Bank foreclosed on the family home at 68 Cedar Grove Ave. in July and that the bank repossessed the house.
The state police began investigating Edwards in November after receiving a report from the Department of Children and Families. A child who knows the alleged victim had disclosed the allegations to a counselor. The child said the alleged victim had told her about the allegations. The alleged victim was then interviewed by a DCF investigator and state police.
The victim said when he was between 5 and 7 years old, he had four or five encounters of a sexual nature with Edwards. The victim said he was afraid to tell anyone because he was frightened of Edwards.
DAY STAFF WRITER KATHLEEN EDGECOMB CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.