Llodra Says Claims Against Former Newtown Police Sergeant 'Shocking'

Editor’s Note: We first ran this story on May 19 but ICYMI First Selectman Pat Llodra issued a statement on the accusations against Sergeant Steven Santucci. 

Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra issued a statement responding to the alleged criminal activity conducted by former Newtown Police Sergeant Steven Santucci and dispatcher Jason Chickos.

Santucci and Chickos were both arrested after a multi-agency investigation into an alleged steroid and prescription pill distribution network. The two pleaded “not guilty” during an arraignment in Hartford May 14.

“The alleged criminal activity of Sgt Santucci and dispatcher Chickos is very concerning. It is bad enough that these two employees may have been involved in trafficking illegal substances, it is further shocking and insulting to think that transactions may have been executed right within our police facility,” Llodra said in the statement.

Llodra said that Santucci and Chickos do not represent the police department as a whole.

“It should never be thought, however, that these two bad apples are typical of our sworn police personnel or of our dispatchers. The forty plus Newtown officers, rank and file and command personnel, and the ten dispatchers serve our community with honor and integrity every day, under all sorts of circumstances, “ Llodra said. “It is likely that they, too, are disheartened and angered by the behavior of their colleagues.”

In a statement issued earlier this month, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said, “the sordid actions of a few do not represent or diminish the exemplary work performed each and every day by police and dispatching staff at the Newtown Police Department.”

“I am proud of our police department and of our communications department staff. I rely on them to serve our community needs at the highest and best levels, and to do so with absolute honesty and fairness, and adherence to the law. That two employees of these departments did not meet those standards is indicative of personal character flaws, and not flaws in the departments under which they worked,” Llodra said.

Image of Pat Llodra courtesy Rebecca Carnes

Patch File Photo of Sgt. Steven Santucci

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