Two Westbrook constables will be punished for taking too long to show up for what turned out to be a drowning. But how exactly they will be punished is still to be determined.
Westbrook selectmen decided Monday to recommend that disciplinary action be taken against constables Rhea Milardo and Robert Powers, who are being investigated over the drowning death of Elsie White, 68.
A town resident found White's body on June 19 floating in front of his Old Kelsey Point Road home, some time after the constables were alerted that a woman appeared to need help, according to a state police investigation of the constables' actions, the Hartford Courant reports. The office of the chief medical examiner said that White had accidentally drowned.
Milardo and Powers were placed on paid leave in October pending the state police investigation into whether they displayed a lack of urgency in responding to a call to check on White the night before her body was found.
First Selectman Noel Bishop said he won't say what the punishment will be until after he meets with the constables this week.
White's family has filed notice that it intends to sue.
