2 Officers Accused of Stealing Funds Face Internal Affairs, Union Probes

While a criminal investigation into missing union funds is underway, Andrew Stinson and Domenic Costello face an internal affairs probe as well as police union hearing that could result in their permanent removal from the department and Local 3153, officials said.

The pair were after being accused of taking a significant amount of money from the union, officials said. Danbury police are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter and officials have released no additional information on what detectives may have uncovered.

Newtown police Chief Michael Kehoe declined to say how much Stinson, a officer and former union president, and Costello, a sergeant and former union treasurer, have been accused of stealing, citing the ongoing investigation.

Separate from the Danbury probe, Newtown police Captain Joe Rios is heading up an internal affairs investigation charging Stinson and Costello with conduct unbecoming an officer, Kehoe said. The results of that internal probe will then be presented to the Newtown Police Commission during a hearing that could result in further disciplinary action, including dismissal from the department.

During fiscal year 2009-10, Stinson earned a gross salary, including side jobs and overtime, of $83,842 while Costello earned a gross salary of $86,587. Both have had their badges and weapons taken from them but are still receiving municipal pay.

It is unclear whether Stinson has retained the services of a lawyer. John R. Goulash, a well-known Bridgeport criminal attorney who has represented police officers in the past, is Costello's lawyer. Goulash could not be reached for comment.

As part of the internal affairs investigation, Stinson and Costello must answer any questions Rios poses, although anything they say during the internal probe cannot be shared with criminal investigators, Kehoe said, citing a Supreme Court precedent granting police officers so-called Garrity protections.

If the two do not answer the questions, they could face insubordination charges, Kehoe said, adding the two have cooperated with the department so far and there is no reason to think that would not continue.

"We are looking at violations of rules and regulations," Kehoe said of the internal affairs investigation, adding the probe is different from the criminal one. "The standards of proof are lower."

Other officers also will be interviewed as part of the process. Kehoe said he had no estimate on how long that process would take.

Meanwhile, the union is also moving to remove Stinson and Costello from the organization, launching an internal investigation of its own, Waterbury-based police union lawyer Eric Brown said, adding a union hearing into the matter has been scheduled to take place in the next couple of months.

Members of the executive board will preside over the hearing and render a decision, Brown said.

The executive board consists of acting president, police officer Scott Ruszczyk, vice president, Detective Daniel McAnaspie, treasurer, police Sgt. Aaron Bahamonde and secretary, police officer Michael McGowan.

Stinson resigned his union presidency at around the same time he was placed on paid administrative leave while Costello resigned as treasurer a couple of weeks ago, Brown said.

The hearing can result in several outcomes. Stinson and Costello can remain in the union and have no penalties assessed, they can be suspended with penalty or removed from the union with penalty. A penalty would include restitution of union funds.

If the pair do not agree to pay the penalty if it is assessed, the union may have to file a civil lawsuit to collect any money, Brown said.

Both have been asked to attend and are entitled to have a lawyer present at the hearing.

"We go into it with an open mind," Brown said of the hearing.

As a result of the alleged theft of funds, union officials are talking about instituting new rules to safeguard their money, including naming three trustees whose job it will be to keep track of union finances in addition to the executive board.

"The idea is you have more eyes watching it," Brown said.

In the past, to withdraw money from the union fund.

"The trust factor is so great," Brown said, adding it would have been unusual for the other officers to question one of their own on suspected financial improprieties.

By having more officers keeping tabs of the finances as trustees, the union reduces the risk of wrongdoing, Brown said. Across the state, police unions are taking more measures to safeguard their finances, he said.

"There's more diligence now," Brown said. "Sometimes it takes something like this to be a wake-up call."