Board of Police Commissioners

City of West Haven, CT Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday, January 2, 2024 The regular meeting of the West Haven Board of Police Commissioners was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Raymond Collins III at West Haven Police Headquarters, 200 Sawmill Road. All those present, rose and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance Raymond Collins III, Chairman Present Paul E. Butler, Vice-Chairman Present John M. Carrano, Commissioner Present Christopher Suggs, Commissioner Present Deborah B. Wright, Pension Board Chair and Commissioner Present Joseph Perno, Chief of Police Present Carl Flemmig, Deputy Chief Present Steve Johnstone, City Council Police Liaison Present Agenda Commissioner Butler MOVED to add Item 11.2 Personnel under Executive Session; SECONDED by Commissioner Suggs. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Wright MOVED to accept the agenda as amended; SECONDED by Commissioner Butler. Motion carried unanimously. 1. Minutes Commissioner Carrano MOVED to accept the minutes from the previous meeting on December 19th, 2023; SECONDED by Commissioner Butler. Motion carried; Commissioner Wright abstained. 2. Public Input Russ Kneihl, President of the West Haven Police Department Retired Officers Association, 200 Saw Mill Road, West Haven, addressed the Board of Commissioners to pay tribute to Walter Casey, who passed away on December 26th, 2023. Kneihl acknowledged Walter Casey’s 48 years of service on the West Haven Police Department, 16 of which as the Union President; and noted Walter Casey’s strong personality, loud voice, and strong commitment to the Department. He was reluctant to speak on Walter Casey’s behalf but knew if there were anything he would want to address to the board one last time, it would be to advocate to restore the pension. Kneihl finished by stating that Walter Casey was a good cop and thanked him for all he has done over his 48 years of service. Lieutenant D’Amato, Vice President of Local #895, also paid his respects to the late Walter Casey. He thanked him for all of the work he’s done regarding the verbiage in the contracts and for being a proponent for the pension; stated he hopes the pension can get done for him and everyone else in the agency. Chairman Collins asked three times if any person from the public wished to speak. There being none, he declared the public portion closed. 3. Communications – None 4. Report of the Chief Chief Perno announced the upcoming benefit for Officer Cody Bacon and Officer Alex Triscitti to be recognized on January 28th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the IA Club in West Haven; $20 entrance fee. 5. Report of the Deputy Chief – None 6. Report of the Committees – None 7. Old Business – None 8. New Business 8.1 Resignation of Officer Michael Billups, Effective December 31st, 2023 Commissioner Carrano MOVED to accept the resignation of Officer Michael Billups, effective December 31st, 2023; SECONDED by Commissioner Wright. Motion carried unanimously. 9. Pension Board – None 10. Commissioner’s Report – None 11. Executive Session Commissioner Suggs MOVED go to into Executive Session to discuss the following: 11.1 Police Applicant Interviews 11.2 Personnel The motion was SECONDED by Commissioner Butler. Motion carried unanimously. The Commissioners entered Executive Session at 7:10 p.m. Executive Session ended at 7:43 p.m. Commissioner Suggs MOVED to add Item 8.2 under New Business regarding the hiring of Marisa Minore as a Probationary Officer at Grade C starting January 3rd, 2024; SECONDED by Commissioner Carrano. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Suggs made a motion to approve Item 8.2 and hire Marisa Minore as a Probationary Officer at Grade C starting January 3rd, 2024; SECONDED by Commissioner Carrano. Motion carried unanimously. 12. Adjournment At 7:44 p.m., Commissioner Butler MOVED to adjourn; SECONDED by Commissioner Wright. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Christy Collins Recording Clerk