Ansonia Still Reviewing Fire Chief’s Gun Storage

Ansonia’s labor attorney is still working on a report about the storage of guns in the city Fire Chief’s office, according to Mayor James Della Volpe.

Fran Teodosio was asked in August to interview Ron Burgess, Sr. and others who may have known that Burgess stored guns in his office. The request came days after the guns — a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a Smith and Wesson 5.56 caliber rifle — were stolen from the fire chief’s office located in the public works complex.

Della Volpe has said he was unaware of the gun storage, and had not given permission to Burgess to leave the guns there. 

Burgess told police he had brought the guns to the office for safe keeping during a weekend party he hosted at his home. 

However, Burgess also operated a gun safety class out of the office.

The internal investigation was slated to determine if anyone else knew about the guns, why they were at the office, and how long they had been there. 

Teodosio has interviewed Burgess, but still has two more interviews to conduct, according to Della Volpe. 

There’s a draft report that came out,” Della Volpe said. He said he had to interview two more people.”

Della Volpe declined to comment on the draft report until he sees the final report. He said that could be in the next couple of weeks.

I certainly have a good idea of what went on,” Della Volpe said. I won’t talk about it until I get a complete draft.”

Burgess was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 10. That status has not changed, Della Volpe said Monday, Nov. 14.

The police department is investigating the theft of the guns. Burgess legally owned the guns and is not facing any criminal charges, police said. 

The guns have not been recovered and no arrests have been made.

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