56. On Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 1403 hours, Assistant Chief Thody and I conducted a recorded interview with Lieutenant Paul West. Assistant Chief Thody was present for this interview because the subject of the interview holds the rank of lieutenant. This interview took place at the Cheshire Fire Department (250 Maple Avenue, Cheshire, Connecticut), within the office of Assistant Fire Chief Daniel J. Ford. Lieutenant West was advised that this interview was part of an administrative investigation and his Garrity Rights applied. Furthermore, Lieutenant West elected, under the ‘Weingarten Ruling, to have Sergeant John Szewozyk and Attorney Cynthia Jennings present for the interview. Please note, this interview was held at this location because two separate attempts to interview Lieutenant West during his regular shifts on February 28, 2019 and March 2, 2019 were unsuccessful. Lieutenant West took time off despite prior notice of interviews being scheduled. Lieutenant West and I were at the Cheshire Fire Department for training during the entire week of March 4, 2019, Sergeant Szewozyk, the Hartford Police Union President, was notified on March 4, 2019 at approximately 1600 hours that the interview would take place on March 5, 2019 and I requested that a union representative be present, On March 5, 2019 at approximately 1128 hours, Assistant Chief ‘Thody advised Lieutenant West that he was present to assist in interviews, related to Hartford Police Department I-File Number 2017-013 and I-File Number 2018-012. Assistant Chief Thody afforded Lieutenant West a forty-five (45) minute lunch break. Assistant Chief Thody also afforded Lieutenant West the opportunity for counsel and Attomey Jennings was already present in the parking lot when Licutenant West was afforded this opportunity. At approximately 1215 hours, Licutenant West, Sergeant Szewezyk, and Attomey Jennings were provided four memorandums related to the ‘so investigations and given time to review them in private. At approximately 1305 hours, Assistant Chief Thody and I were notified that they read the material and were ready to begin the interviews. ‘The interview for Hartford Police Department I-File Number 2017-013 took place first. A summary of Lieutenant West’s interview related to Hartford Police Department I-File Number 2018-012 is-as follows: Lieutenant West started the interview by stating that he had an objection, which is the same objection ‘that he had during the interview for Hartford Police Department I-File Number 2017-013. During, the I-File Number 2017-013 interview, Lieutenant West stated that he had an objection to Assistant Chief Thody being present because he has an “external complaint with 1983 claim” that Assistant Chief Thody is named in. Lieutenant West stated that because of this, Assistant Chief ‘Thody could not give a “fair and impartial appraisal” of what would occur during the interview. Lieutenant West added that since the interview related to I-File Number 2017-013 that was approximately two years old, he was wondering why his training was interrupted. Lieutenant West stated that he was the only ‘African-American in the class and that the interview interrupted his training. Lieutenant West. believed that the interview was “deliberately done to embarrass me” and impeded my ability to make networking opportunities.” Lieutenant West added “and matter of fact, it amounts to a modem day. public lynching, It’s just inappropriate for a two-year-old case to interrupt a training and upset my mindset and my ability to learn for the remainder of the day.” ‘The comments were noted and the interview proceeded. Lieutenant West stated he was assigned to the Recruitment Division from 2015 until May 2018, Lieutenant West went to the Southern Police Institute (SPI) in February 2018 and returned on or about May 12, 2018. Sergeant Rodney was assigned to the Recruitment Division when Lieutenant JAD 1 ile # 2018-012 Serving the Capital Cy Poge|3!West went to SPI. Licutenant West believed that when Sergeant Rodney reported directly to Deputy Chief Rendock, it was to circumvent him. I asked Lieutenant West if he could properly supervise ‘the Rectuitment Division from the State of Kentucky and he responded by stating “I mean, no, I was in training.” Lieutenant West added that this continued after he returned from training, Lieutenant ‘West “did not recall” that Deputy Chief Rendock told him that he was no longer in the Recruitment Division on or about May 15, 2018, but just that he was going to “shadow” Lieutenant Powell to prepare for Lieutenant Powell's absence. Lieutenant West believes that getting transferred from the Recruitment Division had “something to do” with him making the complaint on behalf of Although Lieutenant West did not make the verbal complaint to Chief Rosado and Assistant Chief Medina until May 29, 2018, hie was unsure if anyone else did, Lieutenant West was shown 2 KRONOS printout, which revealed that Licutenant West was assigned to Unit 301 (South District Commander) as of May 28, 2018. Lieutenant West responded by stating “I don’t know who inputs this information.” I then showed Lieutenant West a KRONOS audit, which showed that on May 28, 2018 at 1337 hours, Lieutenant West inputted holiday time under Unit 301 on May 28, 2018. Lieutenant West stated that it was “reasonable” that since he was the Acting South Commander, the holiday pay would be taken from ‘the South Division but he was not relieved of his recruitment duties until the day of the complaint (May 29, 2018). Tadvised Lieutenant West that testimony from other sworn members revealed that he was no longer in recruitment on May 26, 2018 and still went to the event, Lieutenant West stated he did not get permission to work overtime for the recruitment event because he believed he was still the ‘Commander of the Recruitment Division. On May 29, 2018, he stated that he leamed he was no longer in the Recruitment Division because there was a “discrepancy with the recruitment time,” This was after a meeting involving Assistant Chief Medina, Deputy Chief Rendock, and Deputy Chief Watson. Lieutenant West denied that he was told that he was no longer in the Recruitment Division prior to this meeting, Lieutenant West acknowledged responding with Lieutenant Powell to a DBA-involved. shooting (May 16, 2018), preparing for COMPSTAT prior to Officer Kidik being seriously wounded in the line of duty (May 17, 2018), and attending a demonstration with Lieutenant Powell (May 21, 2018). In October 2017, Lieutenant West did attend the supervisory training with Attorney Daigle, related to harassment, Lieutenant West had no information to provide regarding the incidents that occurred ‘at Capitol Community College and the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Fair. Lieutenant West did tell Sergeant Rodney that “you should always offer the front seat to a lady.” Lieutenant West was raised to let a female get in the front seat, open the door, and does not believe a woman should walk on the curbside. Sergeant Rodney did say something to the effect of“ is not a real Indy.” Lieutenant West perceived Sergeant Rodney’s comment as “disrespectful.” Lieutenant. West originally stated that he “did not recall” how he responded to Sergeant Rodney and then recalled telling Sergeant Rodney that he should “give the preference to a lady.” Lieutenant West took no further action, ‘Lieutenant West was not present for the incident that occurred at the restaurant, where alleged that Sergeant Rodney stated “How can she be a vegetarian when she eats fish.” Licutenant IAD [File # 2018-012 ‘Serving the Capital Cy Page|West was informed of this incident “sometime” after he returned fiom SPT and before the end of May 2018. When asked what he did about this, he stated that he was not present and advised Chief Rosado and Assistant Chief Medina about the “totality of the circumstances.” Lieutenant West knew that the Connecticut State Police were present, but had “no reason” to document that in his memorandum dated May 30, 2018 or take any corrective action. On the May 26, 2018 event, Lieiitenant West, Sergeant Rodney and ‘were wearing sweatsuits and were identifiable as members of the Hertford Police Department. They were positioned in the hallway, close to the door to go outside to a track. Lieutenant West and Sergeant Rodney were three (3) to five (5) feet apart. ‘was approximately eight (8) to twelve (12) feet behind Lieutenant West. Lieutenant West stated that he tried to “redirect” Sergeant Rodney’s comments, as he did not know ‘who was around but assumed that others did hear it. When asked to elaborate, Lieutenant West said he tried to “talk to him about other things” and told him not to “talk like that.” When I asked if he ordered him to stop, Licutenant West stated “I didn’t say this is an order but I told him not to talk like that.” Sergeant Rodney laughed in response and Lieutenant West stated that he could not speak to Sergeant Rodney's “ental state.” Since approximately 500 people were present, Lieutenant West believed it wouldn't have been appropriate to get into an argument and instead was discreet. Lieutenant West added “short of putting a muzzie on someone, you can’t stop a person from action. You can certainly tell a person not to do something.” However, later in the interview, Lieutenant West stated that people were not always around, as people were going to different aspects of the CHIP test. Lieutenant West belioved that Sergeant Rodney was putting phone numbers into his phone so that he could “stay in contact” with them. Lieutenant West asked Sergeant Rodney what he was doing and ‘Sergeant Rodney laughed. In the best interest of being discrect, Lieutenant West again stated that he did not want to make a scene. Licutcnant West stated that it is not common practice to asterisk individuals on the sign-in sheet. When asked if he ever asterisked a name, Lieutenant West stated “I don’t believe 60.” Tasked again, and Lieutenant West said “I don’t recall.” I then showed Lieutenant West the sign-in sheet from May 26, 2018, which showed that indicated that Lieutenant West did asterisk one name and asterisked one name. Lieutenant West again stated that he did not remember asterisking the name, Lieutenant West stated that Sergeant Rodney walked away on “several” occasions to check the score of asoccer game, Lieutenant West could not provide a time frame of how long Sergeant Rodney was gone for to check the score of the soccer game. When asked if it was appropriate for Sergeant Rodney ‘to watch soccer while working, Lieutenant West stated that Sergeant Rodney was checking the score “while going to the bathroom, 50 he could not tell him not to watch the game. Lieutenant West added “who am To tell him that he’s not going to the bathroom.” Lieutenant West stated Sergeant Rodney felt he was a “square” and that people had “different fantasies.” That is when Sergeant Rodney mentioned “someone defecating on a plate or a cylinder and how that was arousing.” Lieutenant West told Director Chery that he heard Sergeant Rodney speaking about it. Lieutenant West denied Director Chery's analysis that Lieutenant West was engaged in a conversation about it with Sergeant Rodney. IAD File # 2018-012 Serving the Capita Cy Poge (33