Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2006
Source: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
Copyright: 2006sMediaNews Group, Inc
Contact:  http://www.connpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574
Author: Dirk Perrefort

5 COPS HAVE 5 DAYS TO FIGHT SUSPENSIONS

MILFORD -- Five police officers given suspensions for  their handling 
of a prisoner who later died in custody  have up to five days to 
decide if they want to file a  grievance, a union representative said Monday.

Sgt. Jeff Matchett, president of the Milford Police  Union Local 899, 
said the officers have five business  days from receiving the 
suspension notice to decide if  they want to fight the move. Police 
Chief Keith Mello  announced the one-day, unpaid suspensions last 
Friday  while releasing a report of the department's internal 
investigation into the death of Nicholas Brown, 24, of  Stratford.

"I will meet with the suspended officers in the near  future and it 
will be their choice if they want to  pursue a grievance," Matchett 
said. "The union will  defend each and every member that does wish to 
pursue a  grievance. My own personal opinion is that the  discipline 
was excessive."

The five officers were each suspended for policy  violations 
discovered during the internal investigation  into Brown's death, 
including a sergeant who failed to  call paramedics when he first 
learned that the prisoner  was hallucinating. The suspended officers 
include Sgt.  Kenneth Walewski, Officer Jeffrey Cortes, Officer John 
Kranyak, Lt. Victor Daniels and Lt. Joseph Pietrafesa.

Brown died on Oct. 19 from "cocaine toxicity," about  five hours 
after being shot three times with a stun gun  in the parking lot of 
the Red Roof Inn on Rowe Avenue.  At the time of his arrest, he told 
police officers he  had swallowed "roaches," a term used for 
partially smoked marijuana cigarettes.

Officials with the Chief State Medical Examiner's  Office later 
determined Brown's death was the result of  a cocaine overdose.
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