Police Probe Missing Funds

At Public Works Dept.

By Andrew Gorosko

Town police detectives are conducting a criminal investigation into a report of a “substantial amount” of missing public funds at the town public works department at Turkey Hill Road.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe confirmed February 25 that police have been investigating the matter for the past several weeks.

Asked for details about the police probe, the police chief responded, “We don’t talk about active investigations…We are conducting a criminal investigation regarding possibly missing funds from the public works department.”

Chief Kehoe declined to say how many people are being investigated in the case. Several dozen people work at the public works department.

The police detective unit, headed by Detective Sergeant Robert Tvardzik, is conducting the probe, Chief Kehoe said. “All the detectives are working on it,” the police chief said. The detective unit has eight members, four of whom address general crime, three of whom specialize in youth-related law enforcement, and one of whom specializes in drug investigations.

“It’s a criminal investigation. There’s something to it,” Chief Kehoe said. Police are in the process of establishing the magnitude of the possible offenses, involving identities and methodologies, he said. The amount of funds involved in the case is yet unclear, he said.

If “probable cause” is found to pursue criminal charges, police would seek an arrest warrant or warrants in the case.

The types of crimes under investigation involve the theft of money, such as larceny, or embezzlement, which is a form of larceny.

The first selectman requested that police pursue an investigation concerning allegedly missing funds, the police chief said.

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said February 26, “The (town) financial office and our office discovered what might be a problem.” Consequently, the matter was turned over to police for investigation, Mr Rosenthal said.

Mr Rosenthal said he would limit his comments on the matter because he does not want to jeopardize the police investigation.

“It’s a substantial amount of money. It’s certainly serious,” Mr Rosenthal said.

Asked for his comment on the matter on February 26, Public Works Director Fred Hurley said “No, not at this time.”

“Anything that’s going to happen is going (to happen) through the police,” he said.

“I don’t want to characterize anything,” Mr Hurley said.

“They’ve (police) got to finish their job and then we’ll go from there,” Mr Hurley said.