FILE
Ansonia Police Chief Kevin J. Hale
I normally do not write letters to the Valley Independent Sentinel. However, I find that I must respond to an article posted by the Sentinel on Sept. 8, concerning the police investigation of a motor vehicle accident from July 29 on Franklin Street.
Although the article is filled mostly with details from official police reports and with quotes from Lieutenant Patrick Lynch, one sentence has caused me to respond.
Paragraph four states, “However, city police reviewed their DUI investigation after the Valley Indy started asking questions about it during the past two weeks.”
This could lead one to believe that, had the reporter not asked questions, the investigation might not have been reviewed again. That is not true.
We looked at the entire case again because it was inexplicable to us that the blood sample was not tested. Our subsequent review of all of the documentation found that the hospital lab had, in fact, properly tested the sample. Again, we undertook this subsequent review because we wanted to make sure of the facts, not because of a reporter’s questions.
Once we were able to establish the correct facts in the case, I immediately ordered an Internal Affairs Investigation. Obviously, a mistake was made and we have to find out how and why, so we can correct our error moving forward.
Maintaining the public’s confidence and trust is of the utmost importance to us. To that end, and to be as open as possible, I have asked the Ansonia Board of Police Commissioners to retain oversight of the Internal Affairs case, which they have agreed to do.
I want to make it very clear that we are dedicated to the goal of providing the best police service to the public that we can. In doing so, we will not take sides or show favoritism because of any affiliation, political or otherwise.
Chief Kevin J. Hale
Ansonia Police Department
Views expressed in guest columns (aka ‘letters to the editor’) and press releases do not necessarily reflect the views of ValleyIndy.org. The Valley Indy has a 550-word limit on guest columns.
