Bristol Councilman: Don't Reward
Police Misconduct
They
couldn't block a disability pension for troubled Police Officer Marc
Blazejowski, but council Republicans want to keep him from getting a
ceremonial retirement badge.
"I
don't think he has earned the right to this," member Ken Cockayne said at
a council meeting Tuesday night.
Blazejowski,
whose 12-year career was marred by erratic behavior and a long series of
disciplinary actions, was awarded a disability pension by the police board last
month. It will pay him 70 percent of his salary.
Several
council Republicans were outraged that the police board approved the payments,
saying the city should have fired him and then fought any resulting lawsuit in
court. Cockayne and Councilman Henri Martin have estimated that Blazejowski,
34, will cost the pension fund $2 million or more over the course of his lifetime.
But
the council has no standing to overturn the police board's decision. However,
Cockayne said the city should skip its usual custom of giving a ceremonial
badge. The council agreed Tuesday night to put off the decision for a month,
but also voted to direct city officials not to give him the badge in the
meantime.
Cockayne
pressed Personnel Director Diane Ferguson to explain publicly how the city will
prevent future cases like Blazejowski's.
"I'm
sure these matters going forward will be handled more aggressively," she
said.
Despite
internal affairs reports that showed an extensive pattern of deeply troubling
behavior in 2006, then-Chief John DiVenere didn't fire Blazejowski. DiVenere
also let him stay on the job after police in Florida charged him with a felony
in 2010. Ferguson, DiVenere and Mayor Art Ward have all offered varying
explanations for why that happened.
Cockayne
was the only council member who ever publicly challenged DiVenere during years
of scandals, misconduct and coverups in the police department. After DiVenere
retired under pressure, the city promoted Eric Osanitsch, a widely respected
commander who is credited with rebuilding morale and restoring discipline in
the department.