West Haven Police Commissioner Confronted Jailed Suspect: Report

WEST HAVEN, CT — The chair of the West Haven Board of Police Commissioners resigned his position less than a week after telling the father accused of trying to drown his two children that he hopes he “rots in hell for all of eternity,” according to the Hartford Courant.

Raymond Collins III told the Courant his emotions were running high when he had a desk sergeant take him to the lockup area where Romney Desronvil was being held at the West Haven Police Department.

Desronvil, 41, of Queens, New York, was arrested June 22 after police said he was “deliberately drowning his children” at a West Haven beach. Desronvil has been charged with two counts each of attempt to commit murder, risk of injury to child, and first-degree reckless endangerment. He is being held in lieu of a $2 million bond.

Collins also told the New Haven Register that going to the lockup area was “inappropriate,” but added that as a grandfather of five, his emotions got a hold of him.

His resignation from the police commission is effective Aug. 1, according to the Register.

A patrol officer saw a Nissan SUV parked on the beach in the area of Ocean Avenue and Dawson Avenue around 2:30 a.m. on June 22.

“As the officer approached, he heard significant screaming taking place from the water,” police wrote in a news release at the time. “As he continued towards this commotion it was apparent an adult male and two small children were in the water. As the Officer entered the water the adult male continued to drift further away with the children all while screaming at the responding officers to ‘stay back.’

“It was obvious at this point that the male, later identified as Romney Desronvil was deliberately drowning his children. Officers immediately entered the water and were nearly 100 yards away from shore at this time.”

The first-arriving officer was able to get both children, and other officers helped him bring them to shore, according to police. The first-responders were recently honored by the city for their efforts in saving the children. (Read about the ceremony at FOX 61 here)

Collins told the Courant his resignation wasn’t related to his confrontation with Desronvil, but so he could spend more time campaigning for his upcoming bid for state representative.

In a statement to WTNH News 8, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer said she met with Collins after learning of the incident, and he tendered his resignation in which she believed was “the best course of action in order for the Department and City to continue to move forward.”

Read more at the Hartford Courant here and WTNH News 8 here.

For the full story at the New Haven Register, visit here.