Public Works Probe—

Police Focus On A Single Suspect

In Missing Money Case

By Andrew Gorosko

Police are focusing on one suspect in their ongoing criminal investigation into a “substantial amount” of public money reported missing from the public works department on Turkey Hill Road.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said this week that police detectives have narrowed down their investigation one person suspected of stealing the money. The police chief declined to describe how much money is believed to have been taken, saying that police are getting closer to establishing the amount involved.

Chief Kehoe declined to say whether the suspect is a current or former town employee, and declined to state the person’s gender.

Police expect to seek an arrest warrant in the case in the near future, Chief Kehoe said.

In such cases, police submit an arrest warrant application to a prosecutor, who reviews the police evidence. If the prosecutor believes there is “probable cause” to presume guilt, the matter is referred to a judge for review. If a judge endorses the warrant application, an arrest warrant is issued and police then serve it on the person accused of the crime.

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said this week police are continuing their investigation. Mr Rosenthal said the case is “not a widespread issue,” adding that the apparent wrongdoing was “very isolated.”

The public works department handles fees that are collected at the town’s waste transfer station on Ethan Allen Road. Transfer station users pay various fees to dump household garbage and demolition debris at the facility. The department also collects fees for various road construction work.

Police have been investigating the missing money for the past several weeks. The police detective unit, headed by Detective Sergeant Robert Tvardzik, is conducting the probe.

The first selectman had requested that police pursue an investigation concerning the missing money after it became apparent that something was financially amiss at the public works department.

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

Town Financial Director Ben Spragg declined comment.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley has declined comment, saying that a police investigation is underway.