Hearing Date Set for Suspended Eastchester Police Officer

The controversial suspension of Eastchester police officer Ramon Rosado may be moving closer to a resolution. At the Nov. 16 town board meeting, Supervisor Anthony Colavita announced that a public hearing on the case has been scheduled for Friday, Dec. 3.

An outside adjudicator, Judge Robert Ponzini, will hear both sides of the case and make a recommendation to the board regarding from the department. Ponzini, a Mount Pleasant Town Court judge, will be paid $275 a day during the hearing process.

At the start of the meeting, Eastchester Police Chief Timothy Bonci thanked members of the public who had offered support to him and the police department. "I urge you all to hold your emotions until the facts are known," Bonci said. "I plan on continuing to lead the department with honor and integrity."

But emotions continued to run high Tuesday night, as they have at previous town board meetings, with dozens of supporters carrying signs reading "Justice for Officer Rosado." Several members of the public who spoke in favor of  Rosado harshly criticized the board and Bonci.

Underscoring the animosity that has built up around the case, Sylvia Meyer spoke on behalf of her husband, Jeff, a former PBA president, who was on Nov. 4 after a heated exchange between him and Chief Bonci. 

Meyer said her husband could not be at the meeting because, "The chief filed a restraining order against him because he feared for his safety."

"He involved himself in this matter because it's a matter of justice," Meyer said, referring to her husband. And like many others who spoke, she said that for Rosado to be "suspended without pay without a hearing is a disgrace."

Rosado has been suspended from the department without pay since July 13, in connection with an incident that occurred on May 23. An accusation of false arrest from a member of the public was investigated by the District Attorney's office, which decided not to press criminal charges against those arrested.

The Eastchester Police Department looked into the matter and decided to pursue disciplinary charges against Rosado. Rosado had been placed on modified duty between the incident and when the suspension occurred, according to police. Rosado has been with the department since 2004, and prior to that served with the New York City police department.

Many Rosado supporters have speculated that his suspension is connected to an unrelated federal lawsuit Rosado filed in March against the Town of Eastchester, the Town of Eastchester police department and Bonci alleging discrimination.

As she has at past hearings, Rosado's wife, Francine Barbaro, implored the board to "do the right thing" and reinstate Rosado until a hearing is conducted and decision made.

"Instead of justice and fairness, you offered your smugness and complete contempt," Barbaro said to the board. "This reeks of cronyism and discrimination. …You have tarnished the reputation of a good man and better officer."

In defending the board, Supervisor Colavita said, "There are many reasons why people are suspended without pay, it's the law." If Rosado is cleared of any wrongdoing, he will receive back pay.

Colavita also said that similar disciplinary hearings have dragged on for years, and the board has taken steps to quickly move the case forward.

Mark Young, who has lived in Eastchester for three years, said his concern is that police officers are often called on to make difficult, split-second decisions. "If they are worried about disciplinary actions they might not make those decisions," he said.

"Whether he was right or wrong, a man is being penalized and his family is being penalized for doing his job to the best of his ability," Young continued, his remarks drawing applause from the crowd.

Other speakers said that no matter what the outcome, the process needs to be expedited, in order to restore peace within the community.

Anthony Marraccini, the police chief of Harrison, said that his department has dealt with similar issues and the negativity surrounding the case "is absolutely destructive."

"All this rhetoric will destroy the men and women of the Eastchester police department," Marraccini said. "It has to be stopped for the good of the community."

Note: Francine Barbaro's name was inadvertently printed as Christina. We regret the error.