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New Haven
Register
- New Haven
- Monday, 11
January 2010
-
- Rookie
cop could be fired over bar incident
A rookie
police officer is scheduled to face a judge later this month
in connection with an alleged drunken outburst at a bar on a
night when he was supposed to be working.
He will face the Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday,
however, to determine whether he will still have a job when
he returns to Superior Court.
Police Chief James Lewis has recommended Jason Bandy, 24,
who has just over a year with the department, be fired.
Bandy was arrested in December for an October incident in
which police say he urinated on the floor of a bathroom at a
downtown bar, cursed at employees when they confronted him
and flashed his badge when a bouncer told him he had to
leave.
“We filed 10 violations against him,” Lewis said. “We have
the criminal misconduct, and just as important to me is the
fact that he was being paid by the taxpayers at the time
these things took place because he had called in sick.”
A third factor working against Bandy was that he allegedly
flashed his badge and abused his authority, Lewis said.
Lewis, as chief, has the authority to suspend an officer for
up to 15 days. Any more severe punishment must be given by
the police board. It’s the officer’s choice whether to have
Tuesday’s hearing open to the public.
The incident happened after closing Oct. 30 at Center Street
Lounge, 84 Orange St. According to witness and police
accounts, Bandy started urinating on the floor of a bathroom
that a female employee was cleaning and allegedly cursed at
her and told her to shut up.
When a bouncer was summoned, Bandy allegedly pulled out his
badge and said, “Do you know who I am?”
An extra-duty police officer who was working at the bar that
night then confronted him and asked him whether he, in fact,
was a city police officer. Bandy refused to answer the
questions, initially denied that he was a police officer,
and dismissively told him, “Don’t worry about it,” police
said.
On his way out, Bandy reportedly spat at the bar and kicked
a pile of garbage that was in his way.
Bandy was due in court Friday, but his case was continued to
Jan. 25.
In the hallway, his attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, declined
comment.
“He’s obviously going before the police commission Tuesday.
It wouldn’t be prudent to comment now.”
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