‘Disturbing Letter’ Sent To Middletown Superintendent's Home: Mayor Florsheim

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Police are investigating after a “disturbing letter” was sent to the home of Middletown Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner last week, according to Mayor Ben Florsheim.

Conner has been on leave since October, when his request for a leave of absence "based on advice from his doctors" under the Family Medical Leave Act was granted, WTNH News 8 previously reported.

The Middletown Press reported that the Board of Education last month unanimously approved putting Conner on paid administrative leave while claims of improper conduct by central office administrators are investigated.

Florsheim said in a post on Facebook that the letter sent to Conner contained “language and references that were interpreted as threatening and hateful.”

Read Florsheim’s full post below:

“Last Thursday evening, February 24, I learned shortly after 8 pm that police had been called to respond to a report of a disturbing letter received at the home of Dr. Michael Conner and Viviana Conner in Middletown. The letter, which was shared on Dr. Conner’s social media on Friday, February 25, contained language and references that were interpreted as threatening and hateful. The Middletown Police Department responded to the home and immediately opened an investigation into the origin and intent of the mailing.

“While I cannot comment on the status of that investigation while it is ongoing, I want to reassure this community, as I have assured all parties involved, that we are taking this matter extremely seriously. I have full confidence in the investigative process underway by the Middletown Police Department and the State’s Attorney, which will determine the appropriate next steps as a criminal matter.

“On Friday, Chief Costa and I were invited to a meeting with members of the Middletown Ministerial Alliance to discuss the letter, the investigation, and the path forward--not just as a criminal matter but as a community matter as well. I am extremely grateful for the strength and swift action by our Ministerial Alliance to partner with the City in this matter. Middletown does not tolerate any signs of hate, intimidation, harassment or attempts at the same: when we have problems, we solve them through collaboration. Our residents, our public servants, and anyone who visits our city all have a right to feel safe and secure. We aren’t as ignorant to believe racism and biases don’t live in our community, but at the first sign we will work to address them thanks to the many strong leaders and partners working to make Middletown a better place.”