Police Commissioners Call for Gallo Firing

The East Haven Board of Police Commissioners voted last night to recommend that Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., fire Police Chief Leonard Gallo. Maturo announced on Jan. 27 Gallo’s retirement, effective Feb. 3, but the commission said a firing would keep Gallo from receiving nearly $100,000 in retirement benefits.

In addition, the board voted to recommend that Maturo disband his newly formed Law Enforcement Advisory Resource Network (LEARN), in part because Maturo and Gallo are members of the committee. The board also wants the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to investigate Maturo for comments related to the racial profiling allegations, the Department of Justice investigation, and last week’s indictment of four of the town’s police officers.

The Board of Police Commissioners also voted to create an advisory committee; outgoing Chairman Fred Brow and Commissioner James Krebs were quickly named members of the committee. The board terms of former mayor April Capone appointees Brow and Krebs expire today (Feb. 1).