Trial Set For Fairfield Cop's Lawsuit Against Town

FAIRFIELD, CT — A judge chose not to throw out a lawsuit in which a former Fairfield detective claims he was pressured to resign after stealing thousands in heroin and other opioids from the police department, according to the Connecticut Post.

Stephen Rilling, the son of Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, resigned from the department in June 2017. He pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor reduced charges and received 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, which Patch reported on in July 2018. 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 being kept as evidence or purchased 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.

Judge Barbara Bellis on Wednesday said the Town of Fairfield did not present evidence that was relevant to the main allegation in the complaint, the Connecticut Post reported. A trial is scheduled for March.

Rilling is seeking lost wages, benefits and back pay along with other damages.