Longtime Old Lyme police officer facing five-day suspension
Old Lyme — A 15-year veteran of the Old Lyme Police Department is facing a five-day unpaid suspension after he allegedly asked a resident to fabricate a complaint against the town’s resident state trooper.
According to First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Officer Sal Milardo allegedly stopped by the resident’s house in October 2015 to ask him about filing a complaint against Trooper First Class Gary Inglis.
Reemsnyder said the resident told state police that he refused to file the complaint because it wasn’t true.
At that point, Milardo allegedly tried to convince the resident that he owed Milardo a favor, Reemsnyder said. According to the resident, Milardo had helped the resident with a state Department of Children and Families case in the past.
Reemsnyder said the resident recently reported the incident to state police, who began an investigation. According to spokeswoman Trooper First Class Kelly Grant, the state police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The town also opened an investigation with the help of its labor attorney, Reemsnyder said. Two weeks ago, those involved decided Milardo should get a five-day unpaid suspension.
A week ago, Milardo filed a grievance contesting the suspension, but Reemsnyder said she denied it.
Reemsnyder said Milardo can now request a second review of the grievance by the Board of Selectmen, which he is expected to do.
Reemsnyder said if the suspension is upheld, “it will be up to the resident trooper to decide how to carry out the suspension.”
Messages left for Milardo were not immediately returned.
Day Staff Writer Judy Benson contributed to this report.
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