New London - City Manager Martin Berliner said he will conduct a nationwide search for a new police chief, but some community leaders are calling for the job to be filled from within the department.

”I think we should look inside first,'' said City Councilor Michael Buscetto III. “If there's someone capable and qualified and interested, that person or persons should get a shot at it.''

Jay Wheeler, co-chairman of the Neighborhood Alliance, was more blunt. He called for Capt. William D. Dittman, who has been with the department for 33 years, to take over.

COMMENT CLARIFIEDMONDAY:Deputy Mayor John Maynard asked that a group other than the New London police look into alleged “drug use, corruption and cover-ups'' in the department. “We need an outside agency,'' Maynard said. “No offense, but I don't have confidence in the chief doing it.''TUESDAY:“Do I think there's corruption in the police department? Absolutely not. There are no allegations of any cover-ups. What I meant was, if we do our own investigation and find nothing, people can start yelling cover-up. I want to avoid that whole thing.”

MONDAY:

Deputy Mayor John Maynard asked that a group other than the New London police look into alleged “drug use, corruption and cover-ups'' in the department. “We need an outside agency,'' Maynard said. “No offense, but I don't have confidence in the chief doing it.''

TUESDAY:

“Do I think there's corruption in the police department? Absolutely not. There are no allegations of any cover-ups. What I meant was, if we do our own investigation and find nothing, people can start yelling cover-up. I want to avoid that whole thing.”

“Dittman has always been the charismatic leader,'' said Wheeler, whose alliance meets regularly with police to discuss community issues. “He's always been the one that is the face of the New London Police Department.”

Dittman declined to comment about the possibility of becoming chief but praised Chief Bruce F. Rinehart, who will retire in July, ending a 41-year-career in law enforcement in the city.

”I think Bruce did a fine job with this police department for 41 years,'' Dittman said. “He led the men and women in this department through thick and thin, good times and bad, and I'm very proud to have served under him.''

At Monday's City Council meeting, Berliner announced Rinehart's retirement, effective July 17. Rinehart said he has been contemplating retirement for some time and gave a letter to Berliner Jan. 4. He plans to spend more time with his family.

Before the announcement, Deputy Mayor John Maynard called for an outside agency to look into alleged “drug use, corruption and cover-ups,'' in the department.

But on Tuesday, Maynard said he has no evidence of any wrong-doing in the police department.

He said he wanted someone from the outside to investigate the way the department handled the recent arrest of one of its officers for an alleged sexual assault on a minor and to look into rumors about missing money from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

”Do I think there's corruption in the police department? Absolutely not,'' Maynard said. “There are no allegations of any cover-ups. What I meant was, if we do our own investigation and find nothing, people can start yelling cover-up. I want to avoid that whole thing.”

He said he's always been an advocate of the department.

”Our cops are hardworking and dedicated to the citizens of the city,'' he said. “I don't want them to have to go to work every day and worry about some drug dealer coming back with some wiseass comments (about a cover-up).''

He also said Dittman would be “a good guy” for chief.

Rinehart is conducting an internal investigation into Patrolman William R. Edwards' arrest and told the council he has forwarded a complaint about missing PBA funds to the New London State's Attorney's Office.

State's Attorney Michael L. Regan said he has referred the PBA complaint to the Windham County prosecutor's office, which is also handling the investigation of Edwards' alleged sexual assault of a child.

Edwards, who is suspended without pay from the police department while his criminal case is pending, is a former PBA president and had handled its finances.

Regan said he referred the cases to Windham State's Attorney Patricia M. Froehlich to avoid the appearance of impropriety because his office has had a long-standing working relationship with Edwards.

In 1993, Rinehart, then a 26-year veteran of the police department and the deputy chief, was named chief after a nationwide search. He was chosen from a pool of 23 applicants. He replaced Richard A. Kistner, who was chief for five years before leaving to take the chief's position in Largo, Fla. Kistner was also hired after a nationwide search.

Rinehart's appointment as chief came with a groundswell of local support. Businesses in town submitted a petition to the city asking that Rinehart be given the job over any out-of-town candidate. At the time, his priorities were battling violence on the streets, containing drug-related crimes, hiring more officers and improving relations with the police union.

Rinehart has maintained a low profile in recent years, delegating some of his duties to his three captains.

”He's been absent for so long,'' said Wheeler, from the Neighborhood Alliance. “The chief is a figurehead who is supposed to be accessible to the community. It's a very critical position for the city.''

He said he would support Dittman for chief and predicted many of his fellow alliance members would, too.

”A nationwide search is not the way to go,'' he said.

Councilor Rob Pero also questioned the need for a nationwide search.

”I don't know if someone from Oklahoma or Texas is going to change things,'' he said.

Pero also questioned how effective Rinehart will be now that he's announced his retirement. He called again Tuesday for an interim police chief, who would work with Rinehart during his last months on the job. But Berliner said Monday that the department could not have two chiefs at the same time. He said he council could move up the hiring date for a deputy chief position.

Berliner did not return telephone calls. He is in charge of hiring the police chief.

Reid Burdick, a former city councilor and a member of a newly formed council subcommittee looking into ways for the city to save money, agreed that a nationwide search is not necessary.

”If there's a person in the department that knows more about the police department than anyone else, it would be Dittman,'' Burdick said.

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