Former Fairfield Cop Sues Town After Drug Conviction

FAIRFIELD, CT — A former Fairfield Police officer is suing the town over their denial of a disability pension after he resigned following his arrest for stealing narcotics from the department’s evidence room.

Stephen Rilling, the son of Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling resigned in June 2017 and applied for a disability pension. He pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor reduced charges and was sentenced to a five year suspended sentence.

Rilling was involved in a motor vehicle crash while on duty in 2009 and became addicted to opioids following back surgery. He eventually went to a drug treatment facility.

He returned to duty and was again assigned to investigate narcotic crimes, according to the lawsuit. Rilling said he felt pressured to take the position despite supervisors knowing he was a recovering addict.
Rilling eventually put in a request for reassignment, but it was denied, according to the lawsuit.

Around November 2016 Rilling relapsed and had easy access to drugs that were in evidence or bought them through an informant.

“The plaintiff would have avoided relapse and continued to have a successful career as a Fairfield Police Detective if he were properly accommodated and removed from the primary responsibility of investigating narcotics crimes at any time up until his resignation from employment,” wrote Rilling’s lawyer Eric Brown in the lawsuit.
Rilling is seeking monetary damages for lost wages, benefits and back pay along with other damages.

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