Third Police Officer This Year Resigns

The third officer in a month has resigned from the Newtown police department as of Tuesday, informing the Police Commission of his decision Monday night just as he and his union lawyer were about to enter a disciplinary hearing.

Dana Schubert, 53, a Bethel resident who has served 34 years as a police officer for Newtown and the state, said he did not want to comment on his reason for leaving, other than to refer to his resignation letter.

“I will forever be grateful to all of the citizens who have been so supportive, encouraging and generous in their kind thanks to me when I have had the opportunity to serve them or their family members,” he said in the letter. “I hope my efforts have helped to make Newtown a better community for all to live in.”

A week earlier, the Police Commission accepted the resignations of Andrew Stinson and Domenic Costello, one a K-9 officer and the other, a sergeant, who had been under scrutiny in a criminal probe into missing police union funds. The two also faced an internal affairs investigation.

Schubert also faced a disciplinary hearing but it was in matters unrelated to Stinson, Costello, their circumstances or missing union funds, officials said.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe has declined to discuss the reason for the disciplinary hearing, saying it was a personnel matter. Schubert also declined.

With Schubert’s resignation, the department has dwindled its ranks to 42 sworn officers. At the start of last year, the department had 47 officers but then one left to join the state police and his position was eliminated by the town.

In July, Lt. James Mooney also left to take a job as a dispatcher in Brookfield. Costello resigned as of Jan. 21 and Stinson resigned as of Feb. 2.

The town recently opened the application process for new officers, receiving nearly 200 applicants, officials said.

Enough money is in the budget to hire one new officer. If the First Selectman's requested budget for next year were to be approved, the town would be able to hire a total of four new officers over the course of a year and a half.