The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Clergy allege acting police chief remains in job against city charter
NEW HAVEN — The Rev. Boise Kimber and Pastor Donarell Elder have filed a lawsuit alleging the city is violating its charter by keeping Interim Chief Renee Dominguez in her temporary role heading the police force.
In the suit, the pair, represented by attorney Jerald Barber, note two sections of the charter they say back up their claim — one that says no person can hold an acting role in city government for more than six months, and another that says no one “may serve in a temporary employment position with the city” for more than 180 days.
Dominguez officially began her temporary role succeeding former Police
Chief Otoniel Reyes at the end of June 2021, although she had, in practice, been leading the department since Reyes began using vacation time in March ahead of his retirement.
The Board of Alders rejected Mayor Justin Elicker’s nomination of her for the full-time role in December 2021 through a voice vote that did not require them to go on record as either for or against the idea. Dominguez subsequently withdrew her candidacy for the position. She later indicated she would retire once a fulltime chief was hired.
Barber, at a press conference, said Kimber and Elder, as New Haven residents and taxpayers, have an interest in ensuring city positions are filled appropriately.
“The right to make a temporary appointment of unlimited duration does not exist under the New Haven charter,” Barber said. “The administration should — the administration must — do things the right way, according to the law of the city and the mandates of the city charter.”
Kimber said at a press conference last week that the suit was filed in an effort to get an outside interpretation of the charter.
He noted his concerns over Dominguez’s efforts in the role, as he has done on multiple occasions in recent weeks, as well as the continuing level of violence in the city and the department’s ability to solve homicide cases.
“This mayor ran on transparency and he is showing this community what transparency is and is not. He has determined the interim chief will remain the interim chief; nothing has been done,” said Kimber. “Our city is in grave danger based on the leadership of the Police Department.”
The suit seeks to have
Dominguez either speak to the authority under which she wields the power of police chief or vacate the position, compensation solely for the cost of filing the suit, and any other orders the court deems equitable and fair.
In a statement, Elicker said Friday the city had begun searching for a new full-time police chief, and hoped to announce a firm to lead the quest in the near future.
“In the meantime, Chief Dominguez will continue to lead the department. I’m charged with the responsibility of protecting the public safety of this community, and that is what I’m doing with this decision,” said Elicker. “Dr. Kimber seems to be more interested in press conferences and attention than the best interests of the city. His lawsuit is a nuisance, costs the city time and money and does nothing to make our community safer.”
Elicker previously told the New Haven Independent that the charter only requires him to submit a nominee for consideration by the Board of Alders within six months, as was done in Dominguez’s case.
Dominguez said Friday it was “ridiculous” to think the city would intentionally violate the charter, saying the matter had been considered
following the Board of Alders’ rejection of her for the full-time role.
She said she would continue to lead the department until a successor is found.
“We, together — the Police Department, the clergy, the community — need to work together,” said Dominguez.