Sergeant Asks Windsor Locks Police Commission to Resign

A sergeant in the Windsor Locks Police Department called on the police commission to resign Wednesday.

Det. Sgt. Ricardo Rachele said the commission has mishandled its reaction to the October 29, 2010 accident in which 15-year-old Henry Dang was killed. Former police officer has been charged with hitting Dang with his car while off-duty.

Koistinen and his father, former Sgt. Robert Koistinen, were both fired from the department and await trial on charges connected to the fatal accident.

Rachele said the commission has been making decisions about hiring a new police chief based on the perception that current employees are tainted by the fallout from the accident.

“The commission has chosen to make decisions based on perception and not look for the truth,”  Rachele said Wednesday's commission meeting.

Rachele questioned, at the board of selectmen meeting, whether the renewed search had been posted within the department allowing internal candidates an opportunity to apply.  He said the hiring process is being manipulated and that it didn’t work in the first go around of the search.

“I don’t think it’s the way things should be done,” Rachele said.

He said Wednesday he was upset by comments from commission members that the department has been rudderless. Several officers also attended Wednesday’s meeting but made no comments.

“There are leaders. I’m a leader,” Rachele said. “This department is moving forward.”

Rachele said he has previously criticized new commission chairman Kevin Brace for past statements criticizing the running of the police department. He said if there were problems, the commission was at fault as well.

“Everytime you point a finger at someone, you have three fingers pointing back at yourself,” Rachele said.

Brace has said the second go around of the search is a continuation of the original. Those who applied the first time and are qualified, based recommendations from the Connecticut Chiefs of Police Association, were notified about the renewed searce.

The commission did not respond to Rachele’s call for their resignation. After the meeting, Brace said he was not surprised by Rachele’s statements, and that it was the third time that he has expressed them to town officials.

“Mr. Rachele’s comments are of his own opinion,” Brace said. “As a commission we are acting in the interest of the department and the town as a whole.”