The mother of a Waterbury man missing for more than six years is coming to the defense of embattled Seymour police Detective Ronald Goodmaster.
Goodmaster, a 21-year veteran of the police department, was demoted Thursday from Detective Sergeant by a 3 – 2 vote of the Seymour Police Commission.
Commissioners ruled that Goodmaster was guilty of a single violation of the department’s duty manual for allegedly withholding information about a fugitive living in town.
The disciplinary action brought against Goodmaster doesn’t sit well with Janice Smolinski, a Cheshire woman who has tirelessly pressed for answers concerning the disappearance of her 31-year-old son, Billy.
“We don’t believe any of these charges against him are true. From what we’ve seen of him, he takes his job seriously and would never do anything wrong,” Smolinski said.
Billy Smolinski, a Waterbury resident, went missing Aug. 24, 2004. His family’s efforts have made the disappearance a high-profile case in the region.
Janice Smolinski first became acquainted with Goodmaster in August 2008 when detectives suspected that Billy’s body might have been buried off Bungay Road. A search was conducted.
Her first impression of Goodmaster?
“I thought he was caring. He listened. He didn’t push anything aside. When a tip came through he followed through on it,” she said.
The Smolinski case has been a roller coaster ride of false leads in the search for Billy. Police and the Smolinski family suspect foul play. Searches for his body have been conducted all over the Valley, including Derby and Shelton.
In addition to maintaining websites, Facebook pages and putting billboards about the case all over the region to keep her son in the public’s eye, Janice Smolinski averages at least two calls a week to area police departments.
Just this week she left messages with the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the hope of convening a grand jury to look at the case.
Over the years, Goodmaster has been one of the best investigators to deal with, Smolinski said.
“With other police officers I’ve dealt with, I’ve gotten remarks like ‘no body, no case.’ Other officers haven’t called me back to reassure me on things,” she said.
Smolinski often calls area police departments to find out if there are any new tips coming in. She last talked to Goodmaster about her son’s case a few weeks ago on the phone.
“When you have an officer attentive to your case, it means a lot. It’s refreshing to know there are officers who care,” Smolinski said.
The Violation
Goodmaster had allegedly received an e‑mail from New Jersey authorities about Moses Morgan, who was wanted in the Garden State on weapons charges. Goodmaster didn’t act immediately on the information he received. Cops eventually arrested Morgan in January, several months after Goodmaster received the info.
Goodmaster’s supporters believe he is being targeted by his supervisors at the Seymour Police Department, who have been waiting for an opportunity to push him out. They point out that authorities were made aware of Goodmaster’s alleged violation by Bailey Cook, a retired Seymour detective with a checkered past.
A message seeking comment was left with Lt. Paul Satkowski, the Seymour officer who conducted an internal affairs investigation into Goodmaster. The Valley Independent Sentinel has filed a Freedom of Information request for a copy of the investigation report.
Steve Chucta, a member of the Seymour Police Commission who voted in favor of the demotion, denied there is a conspiracy against Goodmaster.
“We’re not out there for any witch hunt whatsoever, that is for sure,” Chucta said.
Smolinski believes the conflicts with Goodmaster and others in the department are probably ego-driven.
“The demotion saddens me. It shouldn’t have taken place,” she said. “This is definitely an injustice.”
Click here to learn more about the disappearance of Billy Smolinski.
