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Would You Ever Ticket Your Police Commissioner?
New Haven Register via YellowBrix
April 21, 2011
EAST HAVEN — Officer Dennis Spaulding has a knack for turning up in the middle of things — this time ticketing a police commissioner Tuesday moments after the commissioner left the police station.
Police board member Joseph Civitello confirmed Tuesday night that Spaulding issued him an infraction for driving without a front marker plate.
“He gave me a ticket,” Civitello said of Spaulding.
“Evidently, over the winter my front marker plate became dislodged and was missing,” said Civitello.
Civitello said he was leaving the police station on North High Street Tuesday afternoon — driving behind acting Chief of Police Gaetano “Guy” Nappi, and with two police cruisers behind Civitello. Nappi turned right; Civitello and at least one of the cruisers turned left.
When Civitello got over the bridge that carries High Street over Interstate 95, the cruiser behind him flashed its lights and pulled him over.
Neither Nappi nor Deputy Chief John Mannion could be reached for comment.
Civitello, asked whether he thought the police officer was just doing his job, said, “I’m not going to talk about it. It’s just what it is. It’s whatever people want to read into it.”
The ticket is an infraction and Civitello must either pay it by April 29 or take it to court. He said he didn’t have the ticket handy, and wasn’t sure how much the fine might be. The state statute governing infractions lists the fine for failure to display a marker plate at $117.
Spaulding was one of the two police officers involved in the controversial incident on Feb. 19, 2009, in which the Rev.
James Manship, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in New Haven, was arrested after he videotaped police at My Country Store, a Latino-owned market on Main Street. The incident sparked a U.S. Justice Department investigation.
Allen705
about 2 years ago
1468 Comments
They were probably leaving Slaulding's promotion boards. hahahah
copper380
about 2 years ago
2026 Comments
disagree with the officers actions.
lajustice
about 2 years ago
1178 Comments
Just based on what was in the story, the officer that pulled him over had followed him from the station, and waited till all other officers broke off. Had this officer just been disciplined? I'll wait to cast judgement until the end, but it just doesn't read right.
tangohammerli
about 2 years ago
46 Comments
Just to take the devils advocate side... In this neighborhood- whats the attitude of the public towards the PD. Do they think the blue line protects themselves too much? Was this a show that the PD will be held to the same standards that the public is held to? A staged event? I was not there and I haven't interviewed any potential witnesses..
captmagz
about 2 years ago
8 Comments
This officer's ticket history should be closely examined. How many tickets does he right? How many were for driving w/o a front plate marker? There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and good, solid , common sense, community policing dictates the spirit of the law. A simple advisement "Sir, you are missing your front plate marker. You need to get that fixed" Thank you officer. "No problem , be safe and have a nice day." Then again like the saying goes COMMON SENSE AIN'T TOO COMMON.
BlueKnight4023
about 2 years ago
824 Comments
The officer & who ever his FTO was / used to be / or should have been, needs to be slapped in the forehead!
Not only discression.. But common sense law enforcement should have been used.
LAHeat875
about 2 years ago
34 Comments
Officer Dennis Spaulding - WOW - what a guy! What a great decision (NOT). Ever hear of "spirit of the law, vs "letter of the law?" I wonder how many traffic violations you commit in the matter of ten minutes while your driving? But then you sound like a fellow who would cite his own family member - and that is just what you did! How sad!
pek1753_47
about 2 years ago
98 Comments
You mean there are more Barney Fife's out there? Good luck Spaulding you will need it!
wiseass0282
about 2 years ago
10988 Comments
I can see Officer Spalding is going to go far in this agency.