Court: Stratford can dismiss police officer

[WHD]

STRATFORD -- Reversing a state labor board ruling, the Appellate Court ruled Monday that Stratford does not have to retain Justin LoSchiavo, the seizure-prone police officer who was fired in 2010 for withholding medical information after he crashed a police cruiser while having a seizure.

Town officials had maintained that LoSchiavo, 34, had withheld the information about his medical history. The labor board ruled in March 2011 that LoSchiavo had to be reinstated to his job as a patrol officer.

Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Court-Str...

[Town wins]

The state Appellate Court has reversed a Superior Court decision and sided with the Town of Stratford in the case of former Stratford Police Officer Justin LoSchiavo. The ruling means LoSchiavo was terminated justifiably, and with cause by the town in 2010, furthermore the town does not have to rehire LoSchiavo.

Justin LoSchiavo was originally placed on leave after he struck a car stopped at a light and two parked cars while driving a cruiser on duty June 6, 2009. The crash was blamed on a seizure, sparking debate over whether he should have been hired in the first place.

He was placed on light duty subsequent to that incident, and the town launched an investigation that ended with his termination in March 2010. The termination was based on the finding that LoSchiavo had made “deliberately false” statements in his application to return to active duty.

The Town argued that the decision by the lower court violated a public policy against dishonesty by police officers. The court ruled, in part:“…The town claims that the court improperly denied its application to vacate because the arbitration award violates a clearly discernible public policy against intentional dishonesty by police officers in connection with their employment. We agree and, accordingly, reverse the judgment of the trial court.”

Mayor John A. Harkins said he was pleased with the decision, and he is looking forward to continuing to help move Stratford forward in a positive way.

“As my administration has maintained all along, the dubious initial hiring process that was followed by the previous administration aside, LoSchiavo’s admission that he lied to and misled town doctors rendered him unfit to serve as police officer in our town. The safety of Stratford citizens will always come first and foremost with me as Mayor. This decision by the appellate court is beneficial to all of Stratford.”

http://www.stratfordstar.com/4418/town-wins-a...

[its all over]

The end of an era........

[thank goodness]

Finally someone makes a decision based on reality! Hopefully we are done with all the loschiavo's and we never have to deal with them again.....1995

[Maytag]

LoSchiavo's stint with the town was filled with questions from the start, and may have even played a role in former Mayor James R. Miron's loss to Harkins in the November 2009 election.

LoSchiavo was hired by the Miron administration in June 2006, despite being rejected earlier as a police officer candidate for medical reasons and his admission that he stole town property, smoked marijuana, abused sick days, failed to report income to the IRS and was even unable to provide a valid driver's license.

He also had applied to be a police officer in several other municipalities, without success.

The cop had deep connections to town government and the Miron administration. He's the son of former Deputy Police Chief Joseph LoSchiavo and former town human resources employee Linda LoSchiavo


Well at least he can work for his father in the Mr. Appliance franchise, as long as he doesn't have a seizure & drive the repair van into someone's kitchen.

[not quite yet]

This will be appealed to the Supreme Court of CT.

And I suspect that Justin L will prevail.

[Carmen]

Yes Justin has a job at Mr Appliance whenever he wants. That being said, there is NO reason he is not a Stratford Police Officer. His brother is on the job now and they even picked on him. Justin was well liked and an assett to the department. He will prevail, this is not over.

[Just Bruxin]

You people are fools.
Justin will be making so much money at the newest family venture that a job back at the SPD will be the last thing he wants.
Why work for others when he can do better working for his father? In a business he will inherit?
I bet he will have a new company vehicle, good pay, paid medical benefits and a dental plan that is better than the town ever had.