Norwalk officer accused of drinking on the job applies for probation program
Accelerated rehabilitation means the charges could be dropped
If granted accelerated rehabilitation, Laudano and DiMeglio would not admit guilt in the case but would be placed on one year of probation instead. If neither commits any crimes during that probation, the charges against them will be dropped.
STAMFORD — The second of two Norwalk police officers accused of drinking while on duty applied for a pretrial probation program Thursday.
Sara Laudano, 31, submitted an application for accelerated rehabilitation via a teleconference call with Judge Gary White Thursday morning.
Laudano, a five-year veteran of the Norwalk Police Department, faces felony charges of seconddegree larceny and risk of injury to a child, as well as a single count of second-degree reckless endangerment, stemming from an incident in which she and a fellow officer, Michael DiMeglio, were allegedly caught drinking on the job.
DiMeglio previously applied for accelerated rehabilitation at an earlier court date on Feb. 17.
If granted accelerated rehabilitation, Laudano and DiMeglio would not admit guilt in the case but would be placed on one year of probation instead. If neither commits any crimes during that probation, the charges against them will be dropped.
A judge could also add additional conditions to the probationary, such as community service hours or an alcohol education program, if so inclined.
Both Laudano and DiMeglio are scheduled to next appear in court on May 25, at which point the court is expected to decide on their applications.
The two were arrested in January following an investigation into an October 2020 incident in which both could not be located while on duty, police said.
Dispatch tried to reach Laudano by radio and phone, but she did not answer, according to officials. A supervisor then pinged her police car and found it outside the Even Hotel in the city.
When an officer was sent to check on it, Laudano and DiMeglio were found “not in a condition to respond to calls for service,” according to Norwalk police.
Arrest warrants show a 12-hour period in which DiMeglio and Laudano are accused of drinking in their police cruisers and not responding to service calls before they were found in the hotel room.
Laudano was accused of driving with a baby and a civilian in the cruiser after she consumed alcohol, and also using a THC vape pen, according to the warrants.
An investigation was launched as department officials placed the two officers on administrative leave.
During the investigation, police determined the conduct went beyond department violations and criminal charges were filed.
“I am extremely disappointed in the apparent dereliction of their duty to both the citizens of Norwalk as well as to their fellow officers,” Chief Thomas Kulhawik said when the officers were arrested. “We will have no further comment until after the disciplinary process is complete.”
Kulhawik vowed a thorough internal investigation ahead of disciplinary hearings, which police say are still ongoing.