New Haven’s police chief said he has reached out to the state’s attorney’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office about possible criminal charges against two officers who are accused of fabricating background reports on candidates who were hoping to become police officers.
Both officers involved have resigned and the police chief said he has ordered a review of each of the background files the two former officers conducted.
“Both officers chose to resign from the department because they knew they that were under investigation for allegations brought against them regarding falsifying background reports concerning incoming candidates,” Police Chief Anthony Campbell said during a news conference Thursday.
The allegations came to light during an executive session at a board of police commissioners meeting on May 15 from a candidate who was going through the hiring process, Campbell said.
“What we were seeing is that they (the officers who resigned) were fabricating information when it came to the references, but not hardcore information,” Campbell said.
Campbell did not go into specific detail about the accusations because of the investigation, but said the indications are that it was positive information that was falsified.
The allegations have led the police department to postpone the New Haven Police Academy class that was scheduled to begin on June 25. Thirty-nine people were supposed to be hired Thursday and start the academy Monday.
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Police estimate the delay will be about one month.
“The careers of the incoming candidates have been interfered with by the complete disregard for integrity of the two former officers and the ability for the department to move forward in this hiring process has been significantly impacted,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he’s also asked authorities to look into whether the two officers from the background unit committed any civil rights violations.
“No one is above the law, and that includes police officers. They should have to face any and all consequences for the negative actions that they have inflicted upon this department and more importantly, upon this community,” Campbell said.
