The officer in charge of Internal Affairs for the Hartford Police Department is now the center of an investigation into his own actions, following allegations the high-ranking officer allowed his signature to be copied onto training reports.
Hartford Police Chief David Rosado confirmed Assistant Chief Jason Thody is the subject of an internal affairs investigation following his testimony at an October arbitration hearing for a terminated officer. NBC Connecticut exclusively obtained documents from the hearing including a transcript, training report, and Thody’s time cards. Attorney Marshall Segar, who questioned Thody for the Hartford Police Union, confirmed the documents.
Thody was called to testify that he delivered fair and impartial policing training to former H.P.D. officer Robert Lanza, who was fired this January after he was arrested by Plainville police for a DUI. The case against Lanza was later dismissed after he completed an alcohol education program, according to the Hartford Police Union.
In the hearing, under cross-examination, Thody was presented time cards showing he was at an out-of-state training conference on the date he supposedly signed off on Lanza’s training report.
Later, the transcript shows Thody said he was no longer sure he personally trained Lanza, and he testified that it was standard practice for his signature to be photocopied onto as many as 150 training forms.
“All of these are photocopied. I don’t sign personally,” he said according to the transcript.
The executive director of the state’s Police Officers Standards and Training Council confirmed to NBC Connecticut that training instructors are required to sign each training form individually, and only for classes they have taught.
The internal affairs investigation into Thody is being led by department’s other assistant chief, Rafael Medina, according to Chief Rosado. Thody continues to perform his regular duties which include overseeing the Internal Affairs division as well as training for the entire police department, he said.
Hartford Police Union President John Szewczyk said his members expect command staff to be held to the same standard as rank and file officers.
“We feel this is a violation of trust against the membership and a violation of the public’s trust as well,” Szewczyk said.
Chief Rosado declined an on camera interview and sent NBC Connecticut a statement reading, “As with any complaint we receive, it is being investigated and it would be inappropriate to comment before that investigation is complete. I respect our union and I am happy to continue discussing any concerns they have directly with them.”
Thody was a captain when the training form in question appears to have been signed in 2016. He retired from the force earlier this year and was almost immediately re-hired by Chief Rosado as an assistant chief. He collects his Hartford police pension of more than $113,000 a year on top of his salary.
