UPDATE: Madison Police Department Fired 3 Officers Friday

MADISON, CT — The Madison Board of Police Commissioners voted Friday to fire three officers for alleged "harassing and unprofessional conduct," the New Haven Register reported. The firing came after an "independent investigation," the Register reported.

The officers are: Sgt. Kimberly Lauria, Officer Daniel Foito and Officer Natasha Pucillo, the New Haven Register first reported. Both Lauria and Pucillo filed lawsuits against the town in 2021 claiming they had been discriminated against, the Register previously reported. (Read that 2021 Register story here). That lawsuit is still pending.

Patch contacted Madison police officials for comment on Friday, and did not hear back until Tuesday morning.

Here's the statement from Madison Police Chief Jack Drumm and Madison First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons:

"On Friday, September 2, 2022, at a special meeting, the Town of Madison Board of Police Commissioners voted to terminate three police officers. These officers were placed on paid administrative leave in June of 2022 as the result of the in dependent investigation that was conducted on behalf of the Town of Madison. The independent investigation concluded that these officers' harassing and un professional conduct violated the Madison Police Department's Code of Con duct, Policies and Procedures.

The Madison Police Department has zero tolerance for any type of harassment and/or behavior that would affect the working conditions of a fellow employee.

According to First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, “The Board of Police Commissioners is an independent body charged with the oversight of the employees of the police department, including the hiring and discharge of police officers. Today, these citizen volunteers made this decision in order to protect the integrity of our police department and maintain the level of professionalism our community deserves. The Town is grateful for the Commission's service and stands in unity with the many sworn officers in Madison who faithfully serve our community every day with honesty and respect, making Madison such a great, safe place to live.”

On Sept. 1, 2021, Connecticut Public Radio reported that Lauria and Pucillo filed a suit "alleging they were passed over for promotions given to male officers with lesser qualifications."

Attorney Stephen J. Fitzgerald, of New Haven, who represents Lauria and Pucillo sent a statement to Patch, after the termination vote Friday.

Here is Fitzgerald's full statement:

"The action taken today by the Madison Police Commission and Chief Drumm is the latest example of discrimination and retaliation against female officers in the Town’s Police Department.

"As we have previously alleged in the Superior Court Complaint filed on behalf of Sgt. Kimberly Lauria and Officer Natasha Pucillo, during Chief Drumm’s tenure the Department employed only a small number of female officers and every single one of those officers complained about unfair treatment of women at Madison PD.

"For the last four years Lauria and Pucillo were the only surviving female officers. In 2020 each of them filed complaints of discrimination with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). After filing those complaints, the Department ramped up its pattern of poor treatment against female officers by using retaliatory discipline and internal affairs investigations to harass and intimidate the officers.

"In June 2021, Lauria and Pucillo were threatened by a male colleague. The Department leadership was aware of the threat but did nothing to discipline their male colleague. Instead, when Lauria and Pucillo complained to Town officials about the Department’s inaction, Chief Drumm used the Department’s internal affairs powers to advance the absurd claim that Lauria and Pucillo 'harassed' the male officer who had threatened them. The discrimination against women in the Madison Police Department is on-going and obvious to anyone willing to take an objective look.

"Now that Sgt Lauria, Officer Pucillo and the one male officer who supported them in the face of the threat have been fired, they will proceed with the arbitration process that will undoubtedly result in the reversal of this decision. In the meantime, Lauria and Pucillo will return to the CHRO to add complaints about this latest act of discrimination. They will also proceed with the Superior Court action with the hope that it will finally bring change to a Department that has discriminated against women for far too long."

According to Madison Police Commission agendas, reference has been made to "Discussion of Officers’ employment matters," but no minutes from the commission meetings that include that agenda item, nor one where an internal affairs probe was mentioned. Indeed, no minutes have been posted to the town's website since the June 9 meeting minutes were made available.

The topic of personnel matters has been discussed at the Aug. 10, Aug. 30, 31, and Sept. 2 police commission meetings, according to agendas filed online. All four meetings were scheduled as special meetings, and it was the only item on the agenda.

According to the Register report, the cops were put on leave in June and Friday were fired.

>>>Read more at the New Haven Register.