Lawsuit Against Town By Former Madison Police Officer to be Heard in Court

A former Madison police officer will have his day in Superior Court in New Haven, following a lawsuit he filed against the town after he was fired from the department in 2008, according to an article from the New Haven Register.

Daniel Hedges was fired as part of a series of internal affairs investigations that involved nearly half the officers in the department, according to the article.

He was fired in May of 2008 after the Board of Police Commissioners held 21 administrative charges against him having to do with “civility, respect and truthfulness,” the Register reports. Several other officers were also fired during this internal affairs operation.

Hedges attorney told the Register that his client is suing the town because he claims supervisors in the department, including the Board of Police Commissioners, fired him for being outspoken about matters related to low staffing and proposed budget cuts.

He also claims his complaints made to supervisors about favoritism and the department’s failure to follow standard operating procedures and the police union bargaining contract had to do with his termination, the article reported.

The article reported that he allegedly threatened the lives of other officers and had poor and disorderly interactions with civilians before taking a leave of absence from the department for six months.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.