New Haven Mayor Gives Update on Chief Esserman's Place in Department

NEW HAVEN, CT—Police Chief Dean Esserman’s paid leave following an alleged incident at Archie Moore’s will come to an end, but the chief will begin to use temporary sick leave.

Esserman's last day of three-week paid leave is Aug. 15.

“The disciplinary leave of Chief Esserman, mutually agreed upon by the chief and me July 25th, ends today as scheduled, and will transition immediately to temporary sick leave, for which the chief will use earned and accrued sick time," said Mayor Toni Harp in a statement.

Harp didn't comment about how long Esserman's temporary sick leave would last.

Assistant Chief Anthony Campbell will continue to serve as the head of the department in a temporary capacity. In his absence Assistant Chief Archie Generoso will take over.

“I am eager for residents, property owners, and those visiting and doing business in New Haven to be assured their public safety requirements are being effectively met by the very capable command staff and officers of the New Haven Police Department," Harp said.

The department’s three assistant chiefs met with Mayor Toni Harp Friday, according to the New Haven Independent. None of the meeting attendees commented about what was discussed.

Esserman’s contract is composed of six documents, according to the New Haven Register. He was reappointed by Harp to his current term on Feb. 1, 2014 and his term expires Feb. 1, 2018. His salary is $162,000 per year.

The Independent recently reported that Esserman threatened to not provide police assistance for First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to the city after a Secret Service agent didn’t provide him with exact details about his place in a motorcade.

Abrief report about the incident appeared in a January 2015 WTNH report. WTNH reported via anonymous sources on other stories of Esserman losing his cool

The alleged Secret Service incident is the latest story that has surfaced about the chief’s reported behavior. A longtime administrative assistant said Esserman’s “reign of terror” included berating her to the point of tears.

He was also reprimanded by Harp in 2014 after it was learned that he yelled at an usher during a Yale football game.

The city’s police union voted that they didn’t have confidence in Esserman’s ability to lead the department.

Esserman was the top cop in Providence, RI before coming to New Haven. He also was chief of police for the Stamford and Metro-North police departments. He was an assistant chief in New Haven during the early 1990’s.