Fairfield Detective Who Allegedly Stole Heroin From Evidence Room Appears In Court

FAIRFIELD, CT — The lead detective of the Fairfield Police Department's narcotics unit faced a Superior Court judge Friday morning on charges that he stole heroin that was seized during police raids.

Stephen Rilling, 40, a 19-year veteran who turned himself in last week after learning a warrant was issued for his arrest, didn’t enter a plea on Friday morning in Bridgeport Superior Court, according to the Connecticut Post. (To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Daniel Tepfer of the Post reports that the judge ordered the case transferred for prosecution to Superior Court in Milford at the request of the senior assistant state attorney. Rilling is due back in court on June 30.

Rilling was placed on administrative leave in April pending the results of an internal investigation. Police then began working with the State Attorney's office for a criminal investigation. Police didn't disclose the amount of drugs he took and said it affected a few pending criminal cases.

The drugs were taken from the department's evidence room where a property officer believed they were being removed for legitimate law enforcement purposes, police said.

The alleged thefts are believed to have happened between June 2016 and February 2017. Rilling was charged with second-degree larceny, third-degree computer crime and possession of narcotics.

Rilling, the son of Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, was put on leave three years ago after he admitted to a drug problem and went to rehabilitation, the Connecticut Post previously reported. He was reassigned to narcotics unit after he returned.

Fairfield Police have since changed their evidence procedures, including supervisory approval and dual signature for any follow-up conducted in the evidence room.

Read more about Friday’s court appearance at the Connecticut Post here.

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