Soon A Captain, Murgo Balances Being Pro-Police & Anti-Racism

EAST HAVEN, CT — In a few short weeks, he’ll be called captain.

Lt. Joseph Murgo of the East Haven Police Department, along with fellow Lt. David Emermen, will attain the rank of captain effective July 1.

Murgo, who was first sworn in as an East Haven police officer 17 years ago, has had a storied career filled with accolades and awards. He also has substantial advanced training, so much so that he became an instructor himself just four years after he was hired; he is certified to instruct police officers on domestic violence, including the Lethality Assessment Program and Field Training Techniques.

In 2012, he was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant two years later.

Murgo is in charge of all East Haven police training and the recruitment of new hires. He has extensive training in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, and he developed and implemented the department’s Crisis Intervention Team. He was named as co-team leader of the Crisis Negotiation section of the South Central Regional SWAT Team; has significant experience in executive police management; and has been a shift commander since 2013. He has done all of that while working within a department that was under a federal consent decree requiring strict regulations and contemporary policing methods including problem-oriented policing and community policing.

The latter is a reference to the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal investigation into members of the East Haven Police Department who the DOJ said used excessive force during arrests, conducted unconstitutional searches and seizures and filed false police reports. In February 2009, officers illegally searched a vehicle parked outside a Latino-owned grocery store and then, inside the store, arrested a Catholic priest, who was also an advocate for Latinos, on false pretenses, the DOJ said. The officers then conducted an illegal search of the back room of the store in an effort to unlawfully seize the store’s video recording equipment. In the days following the arrest, an officer drafted various false versions of an arrest report to cover up the false arrest of the religious leader, authorities said.

Four East Haven police officers were convicted in the federal criminal case.

Read the full story here.

Murgo is a top cop walking a tightrope

In a post on his personal Facebook page, and in many conversations with Patch, Murgo has bared his soul on what it means to be a black cop — especially now, when police are under fire for brutality and killings of unarmed black people.

Murgo told Patch that his decision to be part of the Black Lives Matter rally held last weekend resulted in a lot of vitriol and hate directed toward him. And while it's been painful at best, Murgo said, he explains why he, and speaking on behalf of the police department, was "compelled to stand" with protesters.

He said, "we wanted to be a part of a positive dialogue. We wanted our community to know that we support everyone’s opinion and that we stand against bad cops. We wanted everyone to know and see that they have a safe space in East Haven to peacefully and safely discuss these issues."

But what happened, Murgo said, was he received "an unbelievable amount of hostility."

"Some from people who claim to support me and claim to pray for my safety in other conversations. Others have been from complete strangers who have never met me, but claim to know my character," he wrote.

"The police have a unique opportunity to bring people together. Sometimes we fail. We have a responsibility to denounce what is wrong and to support and lift up that which is right," he said. "We are expected to do this with the knowledge that we might be killed in the process."

Murgo has his apparent detractors because he took a stand; but he has more supporters than detractors, it appears, including his bosses.

East Haven Police Chief Edward R. Lennon told Patch that Murgo is an "asset" to the police department and East Haven.

"Joe is extremely good at listening to people and is attentive to the needs of the community. This is especially important when you are a high-ranking officer such as a captain. He is an asset to the department and the community. I wish him continued success in his career and look forward to watching him grow into his new position."

And Mayor Joe Carfora said that Murgo is the future.

"East Haven is very fortunate to have (Murgo)," Carfora said. "Not only is he a great police officer, he's also a great guy, always professional and a perfect role model for the youth of East Haven."

In his Facebook post, which has nearly 700 reactions and nearly 200 positive comments, Murgo told his story.

One person wrote: "Joe, your name is synonymous with our town. You make me proud to be an Eastie. They say, 'Define yourself or be defined.' Your character speaks for itself. It can't be questioned."

"I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a police officer. The responsibilities. The expectations. The perception that to be one, you lack the very things that make us all human. Emotions, feelings, individual life experiences, the ability to base your decision on what’s reasonable. I have also been thinking a lot about what it means to be me. Adopted, grew up in a white family, brought up in a town where I was always one of a few. I was always faced with feeling like I had to choose one identity over another. But instead of frustrating me and discouraging me from pressing on, it always gave me motivation. Motivation to prove someone wrong. Not anyone in particular, but someone. I always knew that if I was given an opportunity, I would share the values I was taught with someone who wanted to listen. Recent events have taught me a lot about a lot of people. I am allowed to be pro police and anti-racism. At the same time. With me it isn’t one or the other. With most of us it isn’t one or the other, but the bad ones always seem to shine through. We were compelled to STAND WITH the organizers and protestors of this week’s rally because we wanted to be a part of a positive dialogue. We wanted our community to know that we support everyone’s opinion and that we stand against bad cops. We wanted everyone to know and see that they have a safe space in East Haven to peacefully and safely discuss these issues.

"After taking part in Friday’s rally, I have been the recipient of an unbelievable amount of hostility. Some from people who claim to support me and claim to pray for my safety in other conversations. Others have been from complete strangers who have never met me, but claim to know my character. Social media mixed with emotions tells a lot about the intrinsic values of people. The police have a unique opportunity to bring people together. Sometimes we fail. We have a responsibility to denounce what is wrong and to support and lift up that which is right. We are expected to do this with the knowledge that we might be killed in the process...

"I’m a husband, and a father of two little girls. I want my girls to grow up feeling included regardless of what they look like. I want my girls to be surrounded by love and empathy and if I have even a little to do with changing how people feel about each other, my job here has been accomplished. I’m not asking you to agree with me. I’m not asking you to see it my way. Only your life experiences and the values you hold in your heart will dictate that. But please know that there are many ways of looking at the same thing, and it’s only when we all take a step back and respect other people’s point of view, a better image of the truth appears."

Murgo is also the police department's public information officer and media liaison.