Region: NAACP rebukes New London police over report

City’s hiring of labor attorney called into question; officer’s claims of discrimination were dismissed

— The New London NAACP on Wednesday issued a rebuke of a recent report that determined there was insufficient evidence to support claims by a Black New London police officer that he was the subject of racial discrimination at the department.

The statement, signed by NAACP President Jean Jordan and the NAACP membership, calls into question the city’s hiring of labor attorney Paula Anthony to conduct the probe into claims made by Sgt. Cornelius

Rodgers.

“The New London NAACP would like to take this opportunity to express our disappointment and dissatisfaction with the logic, methodology and conclusions reached by the investigating attorney Paula N. Anthony,” the statement reads.

The NAACP had been involved in talks with city officials before Chief Peter Reichard issued a 20-day suspension to Rodgers for striking a handcuffed prisoner. Reichard had taken into consideration Rodgers’ lengthy history of past issues at the department.

After Rodgers came forward with complaints about unequal discipline for him compared to his white counterparts and alleged a pattern of racially discriminatory treatment, the NAACP backed the idea of hiring of an independent investigator.

The NAACP had suggested a civil rights attorney would be best suited for the investigation and raised concerns last year when the city announced it had hired Anthony, “whose primary role is to defend municipalities and or employers against employee complaints.”

The NAACP also said it provid

ed Anthony with names of witnesses and examples of “egregious acts of misconduct resulting in little to no discipline.”

“We were also troubled by the fact that discipline and consistency in its application were not given a greater degree of scrutiny,” the NAACP said. “Witness statements may vary but patterns and practices are often a greater indicator of disparate treatment. The investigation does not suggest that a review of discipline based on allegations, race and outcomes were considered.”

New London’s Chief Administrative Officer Steven Fields issued a statement on Wednesday in response to the NAACP.

“In reviewing Attorney Anthony’s report, it addresses the specific instances of alleged inappropriate conduct identified by Sergeant Rodgers’ attorney in the February 3, 2020 letter to the Mayor,” he said. “Notwithstanding, the Mayor and his Administration appreciate the concerns raised by the NAACP, and we welcome and look forward to continuing our close relationship with them and having the necessary larger discussion on concerns about race and bias within the NLPD and the City as a whole.”

Rodgers, in addition to multiple complaints to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, has a pending federal civil rights lawsuit against the department.

New London NAACP Vice President Tamara Lanier, in an email Wednesday, said “we will continue to fight for a fair and equitable police department.”