Redding Places Police Chief On Leave After Valenti Family Sues

The chief of police who prevented an emergency medical technician from checking on Redding resident Peter Valenti after he attempted suicide has been placed on administrative leave. The action came during an emergency meeting of the town's Board of Selectmen Monday night.

Chief Douglas Fuchs's actions are the subject of legal complaint filed last week by Valenti's family. They charge that what Fuchs and of other members of the police department did that day prevented Valenti from getting care that might have saved him.

Patch was the first to report that more than 30 minutes passed from when officers arrived at the scene to when an EMT was allowed to examine Valenti. He still had a heart rhythm at that point. Had he been examined earlier, the family believes that he could have been saved.

The town said that Fuchs would be on leave while they investigate his handling of the incident. His suspension was first reported by the News Times.

"I want to reassure the public that in the Chief's absence, the Redding Police Department is fully prepared to serve the people of Redding as they always have," First Selectman Julia Pemberton said in a statement.

None of the other four department members involved in the incident have been suspended. One of those people, Officer Jenna Matthews, first mistook Valenti's body for a dummy.

It's not clear why Redding waited so long to place Fuchs on leave and start an investigation.

Records obtained by Patch show that Pemberton was made aware of the incident and questions about the chief's actions two days after Valenti's death.

Georgetown Fire Commissioner Jim Mecozzi, whose emergency medical technicians responded to Valenti's home, texted Pemberton that Valenti's dad had been told his son was dead and then nearly 20 minutes later watched as EMTs frantically tried to save him.

"My fear is the man's father arrived on scene as the ambulance pulled up, observed no activity, then suddenly all hell breaks loose and his son is being worked up," Mecozzi texted Julia Pemberton, the town's first selectman.

"He has to be questioning the on-scene actions."

Mecozzi then went on to list a couple of possible issues with Chief Fuchs's actions.

"The chief not knowing an EMT can pronounce thereby delaying patient contact, is an issue," he texted. "The chief assuming PT (patient) was 'definitely dead' then the father sees EMS working son…might have him raising questions.

"Let's hope it just goes away quietly."

A message and an email left for Pemberton asking about why the town waited more than one year to investigate the incident has not been returned. This story will be updated when Patch hears from her.

A message for Fuchs has not been returned.

Photo of Peter and Paula Valenti courtesy of the Valenti family.