Acting Police Chief Patrick McMahon was relieved of duty this morning by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano for a lack of candor regarding the apparent consumption of alcohol while wearing his police badge and weapon. Police regulations prohibit alcohol consumption while on duty or in uniform. Giuliano has withdrawn his nomination of McMahon to be Police Chief.
The Mayor said he had placed McMahon on paid leave, returned him to his position as Deputy Chief, and permanently withdrawn his nomination of McMahon to be Chief. Giuliano appointed current acting Deputy Chief William McKenna to the role of Acting Chief. Mayor's Press Release.
"Disappointed"
The mayor said that the prohibition against drinking while in uniform was vague, and he said that it was common for previous police and fire chiefs to have a glass of wine at official functions like the NAACP Freedom Awards Dinner of October 6th, where McMahon was seen to have a glass of wine.
Giuliano said that it was not the nature of the infractions by McMahon that led to his removal, “The nature of the incident was not that serious.” Rather, it was McMahon’s response to the Mayor’s inquiries which disturbed him, “What I had the most trouble with is there was an incident that was brought forward … The chief answered the question about the specific incident, but didn’t really give me any facts beyond that .. That’s just disappointing to me, I would expect more from any subordinate, you [should] give your boss the full lay of the land.”
The end of a turbulent appointment
McMahon was appointed and confirmed as Deputy Police Chief in 2007, and nominated to become Chief upon the retirement of Lynn Baldoni. The Democrats on the Common Council, voting along party lines, refused to support the resolution confirming his appointment. This inspired a grass-roots effort, led by Citizen Activist Ed McKeon, to put a referendum on the issue to a vote in the November 8th elections. McKeon and dozens of other supporters of McMahon collected signatures in sufficient numbers to force this ballot initiative, the first of its sort in our city. [Full disclosure: Ed McKeon is a co-founder of The Middletown Eye].
The mayor said he was disappointed, “I think he let me down, I think he let his department down, I think he let those who went out and circulated petitions to get this question on the ballot as a voter initiative and I think he let the 2700 people who signed it down.”
“The status of the referendum is moot.”
Giuliano said that because he has withdrawn the appointment, there is no point in having a vote on the confirmation. Town Clerk Sandra Russo-Driska was also at the Press Conference. She confirmed that it was no longer a valid referendum, and the mayor indicated that the City Attorney concurred with this decision. Russo-Driska said that the 16,000 ballots had already been printed, and they would be modified individually, “We will be blacking out [the referendum question] on all ballots.”
McKeon issued the following statement in response to the mayor’s action:
After hearing the mayor's decision about Acting Police Chief Pat McMahon, I'm very disappointed.
The mayor has acted in the way he feels is most appropriate, given the circumstances.
I understand that an investigation is still underway, but, if the allegations prove true, I would have hoped that McMahon would have acted more carefully given the scrutiny he was under.
I like Pat McMahon, and I think he made positive changes in the community and in the police force. He has always been available and responsive to community needs. I know our neighborhood has seen positive changes during his tenure. I hope the Police Department commitment to open communications and community policing will not change.
As far as the referendum question, everyone who worked on it will likely feel disappointed with today's news. If the mayor, and the city lawyer are correct, with the mayor's withdrawal of McMahon's appointment, the question on the ballot appears now to lack validity.
An Investigation, and a new Acting Chief of Police
McMahon will be investigated by the police department by their own procedures. Giuliano said, “[McMahon] is on a paid leave of absence, while we can determine what the further extent of this situation may be, if anything.” He indicated that in 30 days there will be a more detailed report.
Captain William McKenna has served on the city’s police force for over 16 years. He was named acting Deputy Chief this year, when former Deputy Chief Gregory Sneed left the force for another job.
The head of the Police Union, Derek Puorro, said he was "very pleased" with the Mayor's decision. Last week the Union voted 88 to 5 against endorsing the Chief in the referendum.
5 comments:
I don't think you can remove the referendum has nothing to do with the Mayors appointment any more. The petition was to should the Acting Chief be appointed to the position. Down south politicians that die after the BALLOT slate is drawn up stay on the BALLOT, were are not talking about local yo-cal elections as this. These are Congressional Seats !!!!!! Do it Sandra, black it out and see what happens. Many of us are already foaming at the mouth awaiting your actions. DO IT ! DO IT ! DO IT ! I will hold the door for you at the Federal Court House when you go in for sentencing ! The question was drawn because the Mayor disagreed with the Appointed Authority (the Council)and has no say in it because it is for "The People" to decide. Just like Phil said at the last council meeting, "The Mayor is the CFO his word is law !!". The Chief F^@*& Up On Top!!!!!!!!
The mayor has said more information will be forthcoming and which leaves one wondering if it was the imbibing of a glass of wine at the Oct 6 event, or was there some other reason for the withdrawal of support and the demotion.
The mayor is trolling for votes. But McMahon lived by the sword....
All those
republican voters should now vote for Chris Bourne. That will be a great change. Can't trust
Guiliano and certainly can't vote for the little boy trailing behind the Serra brothers. Let this election be an UPSET.
Dems are gloating over this because they now think voters will turn to Drew. Oh my God! Disaster. What does DODO know about Middletown . Only what the Serra tell him behind the scenes.
I have lived in a number of cities over the course of the last decade, each with varying degrees of disfunction. The politics in Middletown leave me absolutely baffled. I see no discernible difference in Guliano, Serra, Drew and the rest of the clowns on the Council. All that motivates them is trying to be big fish in the same little pond in which they have spent their entire lives swimming in circles.
Middletown, despite the politics and leadership, is a great place to live, and I'm glad that I moved here. I can only imagine how much better it would be with true leaders.
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