Residents Approve Additional Money For Investigation

Residents at a town meeting Tuesday approved an additional $8,200 for an independent investigation of the t’s actions surrounding an October 29 fatal accident.

Independent investigator Frank Rudewicz on April 12 asked the board of finance for the additional money. The board of finance approved requesting the amount be approved by town meeting.

Residents on Jan. 4 approved the town spending up to $30,000 on an independent investigation of police officials actions after the accident. Town officials said the independent investigation is civil in nature and will have more leeway to interview and perhaps punish people than a criminal investigation.

At Tuesday’s town meeting, Selectwoman Denise Balboni asked how Rudewicz arrived at the $8,200.

Douglas Glazier, a board of finance member, said because of Rudewicz’s credentials they had faith that the investigation could be done for the original request of $30,000.
 
Glazier said Rudewicz has completed the interviews from Windsor Locks. Rudewicz needs to interview members of the North Central Municipal Accident Reconstruction Team before he can complete his investigation, Glazier said.

“He could write the report on what he has now but he doesn’t want to shortchange the investigation,” Glazier said. “With the heavy criticism the town has gotten it was really worth the extra $8,200 to finish it.”

Rudewicz had requested an additional $7,000 to $14,000 but the board felt that that would be almost 50 percent of the original cost for the investigation. The board felt the numbers should be reworked, and Rudewicz and Neal Cunningham, police commission chairman did that, Glazier said.

Board of Finance member Andy Kulas said the board asked Rudewicz several times if the $8,200 would be the final request for more money.

“He got the notion don’t come back to the well,” Kulas said.

Several residents spoke in favor the additional money Tuesday, saying they want the investigation to find put what happened on Oct. 29.

“We have come this far it makes no sense to me to stop mid-stream,” Mary Campbell, who lives on Center Street, said.

One resident who voted against the proposal, Gerard Weatherby, of Town Line Road, asked questions about whether the town had a contract with Rudewicz before the investigation began.

Rudewicz said there was an engagement letter and another document outlining the scope of the investigation and its cost. in answering another question from Weatherby, Rudewicz said he had not been given access to the state police’s ongoing criminal investigation but had gotten some information from attorneys involved in the cases.

Cunningham said after the town meeting that he thinks it’s unlikely the investigation will completed in time for the police commission’s next meeting on May 11.

Former Windsor Locks police officer Michael Koistinen, 25, of Suffield, is charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, misconduct with a motor vehicle, and attempt to tamper with evidence. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Nov. 23 in Hartford Superior Court.

Fifteen-year-old Henry Dang was killed when he was hit by a car driven by Michael Koistinen, then an off-duty Windsor Locks police officer, who state police allege was drinking for several hours before the accident.

Robert Koistinen is a Windsor Locks police sergeant and has been on administrative leave with pay since the accident, his annual salary is $73,385. He pleaded not guilty in January to charges he interfered with the investigation of  the Oct. 29 fatal accident in which his son was involved.
 
The Windsor Locks Police Commission fired Michael Koistinen, a probationary officer, on Dec. 8.

The Koistinens are next due in court on May 5 when a judge will canvass them about whether they feel a conflict of interest may arise in the future with their attorneys. Elliot Spector originally represented Michael Koistinen after the fatal accident, when Robert was arrested Spector became his attorney as well. Prosecutors don’t want that to be used as an issue for appeal should either man be convicted.

At their February 10 court appearance, Michael Koistinen retained the services of attorney Ray Haslett and Spector remained Robert Koistinen’s lawyer.