Politics & Government

Windsor Locks Residents Complain About Altered Picture of Them To Selectmen

The three men, Michael Bracken, Peter Tomalonis and William Rousseau, claim police commission chairman Kevin Brace is behind its creation and circulation.

Updated with Brace's full statement at the end. 4:19 p.m.

Some residents Tuesday asked the Windsor Locks Board of Selectmen to investigate and possibly reprimand Police Commission Chairman Kevin Brace for an altered photo of them that has been circulating through the community.

The picture taken of  Michael Bracken, Peter Tomalonis and William Rousseau was taken during at a selectmen meeting within the last year and has been altered to show the three men wearing dunce caps. The picture has been widely circulated through email, they said.

All three men said they believe Brace took the picture and was behind its altering. They said the picture's circulation violate's their rights and to intimidate them. They planned to file a formal complaint with the police department.

“I find it unbecoming of a police commissioner,” Bracken said. “I want him arrested. I think he should be arrested if it is found he sent it.”

Rousseau said he recalls when Brace took the picture.

“The picture was later altered to make us look like buffoons,” Rousseau said. “In no way do we feel this is appropriate for an elected official in town.”

First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. said the residents’ complaints should be made to the police commission. The board of selectmen does not oversee other elected boards and commissions.

Selectwoman Denise Balboni said she disagreed with Wawruck about whether the picture should be addressed by the board of selectmen. She said she what troubles her about the picture is that the town’s form of government calls for people to participate in its meetings.

“(The picture) only serves to intimidate people who would like to participate in meetings,” Balboni said.

Wawruck said state law only allows seven communities in Connecticut to take punitive actions against elected officials and Windsor Locks is not one of them. He said after talking with the town attorney about this, it would have to be determined if the picture was taken with town equipment.

“This is a matter for the police commission to look at,” Wawruck said.

Resident Sue Caldon, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, said she altered the photo and has done similar alterations of photos in the past, including one of Balboni. She said she was unaware that the picture has been circulated through the internet.

“This picture, I altered before I knew any of you, before I talked to any of you,” Caldon said.

Brace was not at the meeting Tuesday but offered a comment through an email after being contacted by Patch.

“Not having been at the meeting, I'm not privy to what was said,” Brace said. “I did see the picture with them and the silly hats. I did not create the picture. That picture was created last fall by Sue Caldon. I'm not sure where I fit in this.”

Peter Tomalonis is against everything in Windsor Locks that is good, progressive, and positive," Brace said. "When he doesn't get his audience through negativity, he manufactures drama. He accused me with no proof."

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