New Haven planned to send part of the motorcycle unit to a Hamden officer’s funeral, but an officer sent New Haven’s whole motorcycle unit, and is now in trouble over it.
Sgt. Vincent Anastasio has been suspended without pay for disobeying orders, the New Haven Register reports.
A superior officer told Anastasio to send two motorcycles to the funeral of Officer James Mills, who died of a heart condition while off duty in November, However, Anastasio sent four -- the department's entire motorcycle unit, the Register reports.
On the morning of the funeral, Anastasio disregarded instructions from a supervisor who told him recall two of the units, the newspaper reports.
Local
Chief James Lewis has since transferred Anastasio from the traffic unit and brought him up on administrative violations.
"The issue is really an issue of insubordination. When you're in a police department, when you get a lawful order, you have to follow it," Chief Lewis told the newspaper.
Lewis has not yet determined the final punishment.
Sgt. Louis Cavaliere, the police union president, told the newspaper he doesn't condone insubordination but, given the circumstances, the punishment was extreme.
