It has now been about a month since New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio ordered Police Chief Margaret Ackley back to work, ending a 10-month suspension — with pay.

Mayor Finizio, with seeming no other options, made that move after receiving a report from attorney Kathleen Eldergill. Hired by the City Council, Ms. Eldergill reviewed and rejected 10 reasons Mayor Finizio had offered for suspending the chief, reasons he expected to justify her firing.

Mayor Finizio would have preferred a settlement under which the chief would agree to leave, but with her bargaining position strengthened by the Eldergill report, the chief apparently wants a number the city is not willing to provide.

Meanwhile, her lawsuit against the city remains pending. She filed it two years ago this month. It stems from the contract Mayor Finizio signed with the chief that included $60,000 for unpaid compensation time and $25,000 to settle a pre-existing legal claim concerning a prior councilor’s alleged harassment, an allegation yet another investigation called unfounded.

After his 2011 election, Mayor Finizio negotiated that deal to keep Chief Ackley on the job. She had planned to step down then, citing the mistreatment by the councilor. Unfortunately for the mayor, the council refused to approve the contract, resulting in the Ackley lawsuit.

In time, the mayor became unhappy with her performance.

The Eldergill report points to “a number of witnesses (who) commented that the mayor and the chief could not be in the same room together without getting into an argument.”

As for her relationship with the union, Ms. Eldergill notes “a long-term, deep-seated animosity of the part of some members of the department towards Chief Ackley.”

Regardless of where the fault lies for the bad relationships between the chief and the mayor, and the chief and the union, it is not a healthy situation.

Recently three veteran officers retired from the department, at least one pointing to a bad rapport with Chief Ackley.

It does not help the situation that Chief Ackley declines to make any public statements, ignoring requests from reporters here at The Day for an interview. It is understandable if Chief Ackley does not want to talk about her lawsuit or points of contention with the mayor, but she should be available to talk about police matters, the challenges facing her department, and policy issues.

On Monday, the City Council got the cold shoulder. The chief remained silent when the council, with Chief Ackley in attendance, invited a discussion about her proposal to reallocate funds for the purchase of two more police dogs. That would bring the K-9 unit to four, in accordance with an ordinance passed by the council in 2013.

The request puts the mayor in an uncomfortable spot. He has largely ignored the four-dog ordinance enacted since the council passed it over his veto.

“I am aware that you passed an ordinance requiring (four) K-9 teams and this is my effort to fill that requirement,” wrote Chief Ackley in an email to council members. The chief showed no such enthusiasm for the added dog patrols back when the ordinance was under debate.

Chief Ackley also announced, in writing, her plans to boost foot patrols. The union leadership questioned that plan, saying police officers are already stretched thin due to staff shortages.

“Where is the manpower strength coming from?” asked officer and union president Todd Lynch.

If the chief would talk, she could explain and defend her policies. The public needs to hear from its police chief.

Also uncertain is how much time Chief Ackley will actually be on the job. According to the city’s personnel office, she has 1,173 hours in comp time still due, around 147 days. She used comp time liberally before her suspension.

We urge the chief and administration to renew discussions with the aim of allowing both the city and the chief to move on. It is hard to imagine Chief Ackley enjoys the current state of affairs.

This silent movie drama has played on long enough.