Days after the police commission and board of finance in Windsor Locks voted to pay a $460,000 settlement to a police sergeant who was acquitted of hindering the investigation into a fatal crash that sent his son to prison it is heading to the voters.
The Windsor Locks Police Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday night to send a settlement agreement between Robert Koistinen and the town of board of finance.
"I think it would be in the best interests of the police department and in the town as well," said Police Commission Chair Michael Royston. "It's a lot of money, but at this point, our options are limited."
On Wednesday, the Board of Finance signed off on the settlement with a 6-0 vote.
On Thursday afternoon, the Windsor Locks Board of Selectmen voted to put the agreement to a referendum and set a town hearing for 7 p.m. on March 5, followed by a town meeting. The referendum is set for March 17.
Sgt. Robert Koistinen’s son, Michael Koistinen, who was also a police officer, was off-duty in October 2010 and had been drinking when he struck and killed Henry Dang, a 15-year-old boy who was riding a bicycle, according to police.
Michael Koistinen is now serving a five-year prison sentence.
Robert Koistinen was fired from the department in January 2012 and charged with hindering prosecution in the investigation into that crash. He was found not guilty in October 2012.
The case then went to the state Labor Board, which decided Koistinen should get his job back.
Local
“This settlement has been years in the making and is the result of many hours of negotiation. The Police Commission unsuccessfully litigated the termination of Robert Koistinen before the State Labor Board and the state had also unsuccessfully tried Robert Koistinen for hindering prosecution and interfering with police,” the police commission said in a statement Tuesday.
The proposed settlement includes giving Robert Koistinen $265,000 in back pay from January 2013 to April 1, 2015, and $195,000 to waive all claims, past and future, including in accrued vacation time and sick time.
“It is time to put this sad and tragic event behind us and move on as a department and town,” the commission said.
Should Windsor Locks residents vote in favor of the settlement, Koistinen would resign, according to the board.
A “no” vote would reinstate Koistinen to active duty, making him the fourth-ranking member of the department and costing the town at least $347,000 for back pay, retraining and re-certification.
