Seymour Police Chief Michael Metzler is out on sick leave, but could be back on the job in a few weeks, police said.
Metzler has been out since some time in July, said Lt. Paul Satkowski, who has been filling in for the chief. Another high-ranking officer, Capt. Paul Beres, has been out on sick leave since the end of March.
“Hopefully in a week or two he should be back to work, if all goes well,” Satkowksi said of Chief Metzler.
The nature of Metzler’s sick leave was something Satkowski said he could not discuss under medical privacy law.
First Selectman Paul Roy also said he could not discuss the sick leave, under privacy law, other than to acknowledge that the chief is out.
Town Hall was closed Friday, so Roy was unable to provide the precise date Metzler went out on sick leave.
Meanwhile, Satkowski has been busy running the department.
“I’ve been basically in charge of the department in the chief’s absence. It’s a lot of work, very busy. It entails the normal duties what the chief would carry on, pretty much day to day operations. Whatever I can handle I handle, plus I do my own work,” Satkowski said.
The police department is not incurring overtime costs due to the absence of so many high-ranking officers, Satkowski said.
Metzler’s absence has not been discussed during public portions of meetings held by the Seymour Board of Police Commissioner since June, according to meeting minutes available online.
Minutes from the Board of Selectmen meetings since July also do not mention the chief’s sick leave.
Messages seeking comment were left with several members of the Board of Police Commissioners.
