EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Police commissioners in East Haven, Conn., have voted to urge the mayor to fire the police chief instead of letting him retire amid allegations that officers abused Latinos.
By a 5-0 vote, the commissioners recommended Tuesday night that Leonard Gallo be filed. They said he failed to provide leadership, which was evident in last week's arrest of four town officers.
The officers have been accused of waging a campaign against Latinos that included beatings and false arrests. They've pleaded not guilty.
Gallo's lawyer says his client is an unnamed co-conspirator in the federal indictment, accused of blocking the police commission's efforts to investigate misconduct. The lawyer denies the claims.
The commission board chairman says Gallo shouldn't be allowed to retire and collect a severance lump sum of $130,000 to $150,000.
The mayor has called Gallo's retirement "selfless."
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