What began with the New Haven mayor and police chief announcing the exoneration of an officer captured on camera making a forceful arrest ended with a face-off between city leaders and supporters of the police union.
Those in support of the union are upset that just days earlier, Mayor Toni Harp placed Officer Joshua Smereczynsky on desk duty after protestors marched to her door.
"There's such a thing as due process, and we didn't have it. We weren't treated fairly, and that's why we're here today," said Louis Cavaliere Jr. with the Elm City Local New Haven Police Union.
"It seems to me any police officer would understand the need to diffuse a potentially and increasingly volatile circumstance," said Harp.
Tensions escalated after a video surfaced showing Smereczynsky forcing a handcuffed 15-year-old to the ground during the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Police Chief Dean Esserman said the officer responded to a fight involving weapons at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. While taking the teen into custody, he noticed a weapon in her bag and took her down, fearing for his safety.
"A police officer made his arrest and followed the training he received," said Esserman.
The police chief called the arrest "tragic." He said the department will not allow the city to become divided and will support the teen's family.
"A police department needs the trust and support of its community and a community needs its police department," said Esserman. "This is a family that needs the help and has asked for the help of the New Haven Police Department, and they're going to get it, today, tonight, all weekend and forever, if so need be."
But inside and outside City Hall, it was clear to see the lines had been drawn.
Chaos erupted as the police union clashed with supporters of the teen. The two sides screamed and chanted at each other. Despite the results of the internal affairs investigation, protestors still believe the officer used unnecessary force.
While the internal affairs investigation may be done, it's going to take a lot more to calm the storm.
Smereczynsky will be back out on the streets starting Monday.
