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Chief of Police Kevin Hale and the Ansonia Police Board of Police Commissioners
located at 253 Main Street Ansonia CT, and 2 Elm Street Ansonia CT.
terminating me, in the form of forcing my retirement. This event followed my trial on
the charge of larceny in the 6th degree, the result of which was an acquittal. This false
allegation made by Chief Kevin Hale, his treating me differently than other officers
accused of similar conduct, his giving false and malicious testimony while under oath in
furtherance of his plan to use this as a pretext to begin termination proceedings. These
combined, explained in detail below form the basis of this complaint. The criminal trial
myself and others), and my asserting my First Amendment Rights in filing a prior
complaint with the CHRO and speaking out against his actions relating to me, were in
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part factors in this action. I believe that the respondent violated the following
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e and the
COMPLAINT
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The particulars of my complaint are as follows:
Commissioners, the Ansonia Police Department and Chief of Police Kevin Hale with
business addresses of 253 Main Street Ansonia CT, and 2 Elm Street Ansonia CT.
employment with the latest instance occurring on November 3, 2010. This retaliation
me, in the form of forcing my retirement. This discrimination and retaliation consisted
of my employer, the Ansonia Police Department, by and through, its Chief of Police
Kevin Hale, 1) making a false allegation of the theft of a garden hose against me, 2)
which was this false allegation of theft, when officers accused of similar if not the same
conduct were never made the subject of such an investigation 3) using the Ansonia Police
Departments legal status as the victim in this matter to demand the charge against me be
pursued to where a trial on the merits was necessary to resolve this matter 4) giving false
testimony while under oath at the criminal trial of this matter. 5) Constructively
termination hearing in which I could not take part pursuant to the orders of my treating
one member Robert Goldsen, defaming me to members of the public after the Chief had
told him that myself and another African American Officer, Joseph Jackson, “should
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have never been made police officers”. The Board of Police Commissioners is designed
to provide oversight to the position of the Chief of Police and while Chief Hale may hold
such an opinion, as is his right, Robert Goldsen, in his capacity as a Commissioner does
not have the right to echo the Chief’s sentiments to members of the public. Another
member and the President of the Board of Police Commissioners, Nicholas Amico, stated
to members of the public who expressed concern over my malicious and vindictive
prosecution, that I was a thief and by supporting me they were supporting and condoning
a thief.
(Islam) and my previously having opposed discriminatory conduct (against both myself
and others) were in part factors in this action. I believe that the respondent violated the
proceeding Connecticut General Statutes and Acts listed on the proceeding page.
7. I began working for the respondent in 1993 in the capacity of a police officer.
10. I repeatedly made attempts to obtain a full time position and was denied such a
11. Eventually I made a complaint in regard to the City of Ansonia’s failure to hire
me for a full time position with the NAACP. After making my complaint I was
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12. After obtaining this position I was subjected to constant harassment at the hands
13. In 1998 I filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and
Opportunities due to the fact the Ansonia Police Department denied me the right to wear
14. In addition to wearing a beard I also was allowed to openly practice my religion
in the form of being allowed to pray at certain times during the day.
15. These developments angered my superiors and they took every opportunity to
against me.
18. This retaliation included failing to take action against other employees who were
frivolous internal affairs investigations, after which I was not only cleared of any wrong
doing but issued an award for the manner in which I conducted myself.
Harassment and Discrimination Policy. This questionnaire asked if I was aware if any
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20. I was then questioned about my answer by Lt. Cota, an officer in a supervisory
capacity and declined to discuss the matter with him but instead asked who other than
21. A female officer had been the victim of sexual harassment at the hands of a
superior officer, Lt. Wayne Williams and I was a witness to this. I counseled this officer
and offered help in any way that I could, again angering my superiors.
22. Eventually more than 8 years after the original incidents and because of the
intense scrutiny my underlying criminal matter had brought to the department Lt.
Williams was the subject of an internal affairs investigation conducted by the Connecticut
23. This investigation found these allegations were true and Lt. Williams was
24. Lt. Williams happens to be married to the daughter of a member of the Ansonia
Board of Aldermen.
25. I also spoke out against and supported others individuals in the City of Ansonia
who had their rights been violated by Ansonia Chief of Police Kevin Hale.
26. These actions again angered my superiors, most specifically Ansonia Chief of
27. In May 2008 I was falsely accused of stealing a garden hose from the Ansonia
Police department.
28. This accusation led to my arrest on the charge of larceny in the 6th degree in July
2008.
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29. This hose was found within the department 5 days after it was reported missing by
30. Despite the fact this hose was found inside the department, Chief of Police Kevin
Hale requested the Connecticut State Police conduct an investigation and that I be
arrested.
31. The Chief made the decision to have a criminal investigation commenced prior to
32. The Chief was away at the time the hose was reported missing yet called the
Connecticut State Police from Cape Cod as he had made the decision to use this as an
33. The Chief ordered that no member of the department was to inquire to me as to
the hose.
34. As a result of this false and malicious allegation, of which I was eventually
36. During the course of this trial Chief of Police Kevin Hale, gave false and
37. Chief Hale stated that a video showed me with two hands taking my jacket
covering a garden hose and walking out of the building with it.
38. This video does not depict anything resembling what Chief Hale testified to.
39. Chief Hale again lied stating that another officer who was the subject of a similar
allegation, that being submitting a fraudulent time card, was not arrested because this
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officer admitted to this conduct. This officer did not admit to this conduct and an internal
affairs investigation was commenced after another employee had learned of this behavior
and it was only after this investigation was commenced that this officer admitted wrong
doing.
40. I was never asked by the Chief if I had taken this garden hose, and the Chief took
specific action to prevent anyone from asking about it, ordering that an inquiry about this
missing garden hose be removed from a public board used by the department to inquire
as to the status of any number of things, including missing items in the past.
41. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty after deliberating an extremely short
period of time.
42. Prior to the commencement of trial, the Chief used his influence to try and turn
43. He asked that Robert Goldsen, a member of the Police Commission view the tape.
He also told Goldsen that myself and another officer African-American Officer “should
44. Goldsen then went and began echoing the Chief’s sentiments throughout the City
of Ansonia.
45. This video was not shown to other Town Officials, most notably the Ansonia
Board of Aldermen.
46. After I was acquitted and vindicated of this charge by a jury of my peers, citizens
who were angry this incident had gone so far requested the Board of Police
Commissioners take action to punish Kevin Hale for using his position as a vehicle to
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47. Nicolas Amico in response to the concerns of these tax paying citizens then stated
that I was a thief and anyone who supports me was supporting and condoning the actions
of a thief.
48. Citizens in attendance at the meeting then became angry and Amico’s response
was to have one thrown out of the meeting and then try and retract what he had said by
49. Members of the media had been in attendance and his spoken words were
50. My trial was the subject of extensive media coverage and those articles that
51. People who had claimed to be members of the Ansonia Police Department began
to post comments attacking me and my character making implied threats about what was
52. Chief Hale did no investigation nor did he request any investigation be conducted
53. The Chief did no investigation to ascertain if those who made such comments
54. Chief Hale’s decision to take no action whatsoever, was designed with the
specific intent to work in conjunction with the actions of the members of the Board of
return to work.
55. With the aforementioned false arrest as a basis, Chief Kevin Hale used his
position as Chief, and the authority vested in that position, to have me falsely arrested,
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maliciously prosecuted, and gave false testimony as a pretest for past legally protected
conduct he did not agree with. He conspired with the members of the Board of Police
Commissioners and failed to act on, or investigate the actions of members of the
department related to threatening behavior with the specific intention of creating a hostile
56. In August 2010 the Ansonia Police Department ordered that I return to work,
despite my not being cleared by my treating physician and despite then town never
57. When I did not return to work pursuant to the advice of my treating physician a
termination hearing was scheduled and I was provided only one weeks notice of when
58. Pursuant to the advice of my treating physician I could not participate in such a
hearing as the stress associated with such a proceeding would have a negative impact on
my health.
59. If I did not retire or resign I would be terminated, as my current medical condition
prevented me from taking an active part in this hearing, so I was left with no other option
than to retire.
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OATH
Mustafa Salahuddin being duly sworn, on oath, states that he is the Complainant
herein, that he has read the foregoing complaint and knows the content thereof, that
the same is true of his own knowledge, except as to the matter herein stated on
information and belief and that as to these matters he believes the same to be true.
Mustafa Salahuddin
Rob Serafinowicz
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