Seymour will not release a copy of a police officer’s complaint filed against Police Chief Michael Metzler, First Selectman Kurt Miller said Thursday.
The Valley Independent Sentinel had requested the complaint through the Freedom of Information Commission Monday. The town declined to release the document after Metzler objected, citing a violation of his personal privacy.
Sgt. Richard Gittings filed the complaint after Metzler allegedly cursed during a meeting at the police department last week.
Metzler admitted his actions and apologized to Miller for the curse, according to Miller.
The matter will be addressed by the Seymour Police Commission at its next regular meeting, Miller said.
“I give him credit for admitting to what he did,” Miller said. “He wasn’t trying to hide anything. I was disappointed in what he said. We talked a little bit about how it’s not what I would expect from a department head.”
Miller said he wants the commission to issue the same punishment it would to an officer who used similar language on the job. Town officials did not know what that punishment might be.
Gittings did not respond to a request for comment. Seymour police spokesman Lt. Paul Satkowski declined to comment because he had not seen the complaint.
Miller wouldn’t say exactly what Metzler said, only that he was “showing frustration and disappointment.”
Rift?
The chief’s comment allegedly happened the morning after police officers didn’t show up to a town meeting where a pivotal vote on new communications equipment was expected to take place, according to Miller.
The town on Dec. 15 approved issuing bonds to pay for a $497,000 emergency communications console at the police department.
“He was showing frustration and disappointment that fellow members of the police department were not there to support this very important project and this needed piece of equipment at the police station,” Miller said. “He felt there should have been more officers in attendance.”
The police department brass and the union officers have butted heads in the past.
- The union has asked for different schedules, bypassing the administrators and going directly to the town.
- A detective has been in a back-and-forth battle with the administration over several different issues.
- The Seymour Police Union in February wrote a letter to Metzler complaining about a number of issues within the department — including problems with the communications system.
Miller, in a debate hosted by the Valley Independent Sentinel in October, promised to work with the police department to try to alleviate some of the internal disputes.
“I do think there is some animosity in general,” Miller said Thursday. “I think it’s something we have to work towards improving.”
Miller said he has already started meeting with department heads, including Metzler, on a regular basis.
Miller believes that will help the situation by broadening communication and getting everyone on the same page.
