Read Resignation Letters of 2 Officers at Center of Police Union Probe

Former Police Officer Andrew Stinson expressed "great sadness and regret" in resigning his post, saying the decision did not come easy but that "minds have been made up."

"While this decision did not come easy, I feel there is no other option," Stinson said in an e-mail sent Jan. 25.

Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe on Monday released Stinson's resignation e-mail as well as a much more abbrievated resignation letter former Sgt. Domenic Costello sent on Jan. 18.

Stinson and Costello had been in a criminal probe into missing police union funds. The two had been on paid administrative leave since October when the financial improprieties first came to light.

"I do not want to force the Town into a long or expensive battle," Stinson said in his email. "I also know that minds have been made up, decisions have been made and that I really have no chance of remaining a Police Officer for the Town of Newton [sic]. I just want to do what is right and what is in the best interest of everyone involved.

"I want to thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to fulfill a dream and that was to become a Police Officer. I was a very good Police Officer and made a difference in those people's lives that I helped. I never received any discipline and was in fact the .

"I am sadden to know that this part of my life has come to an end. I wish that there was someway I could make this not be necessary but I just don't see how that would be possible."

Stinson had been the president of the police union while Costello had been the treasurer. Officials have said little about what has been alleged other than that a substantial amount of money had gone missing from the police union accounts and that several check withdrawals carried Stinson's and Costello's signatures.

Newtown police referred the case to Danbury police to investigate, and the case remains ongoing, Kehoe said.

The two policemen submitted letters of resignations within the past couple of weeks, with Costello sending his by certified mail and fax while Stinson sent his email to the chief as well as other town officials.

Last Wednesday, the Police Commission accepted Stinson's and Costello's resignations.

Eric Brown, a lawyer for the police union, also . He said the union will seek to recover the missing money.

Stinson, the more senior of the two, had been with the department just shy of 10 years, which means it was not enough for him to be vested in the town's pension system, although both will receive the individual contributions they had made into the pension system along with interest, Kehoe said.

The two also will receive any leftover holiday and sick pay to which they were entitled this year, Kehoe said.