Clear road for Murtha has speed bumps
With a judge dropping him as a defendant in a federal racialbias civil suit, Chris Murtha has a clear path to becoming Stamford’s next police chief if you can look past the mud and murk by the roadside.
Stamford Mayor David Martin wants to hire Murtha, 53, a decorated deputy chief in Maryland’s Prince George’s County Police Department. However, many members of Stamford’s Board of Representatives are not sold on him. Being accused, along with his department and its leaders, of discriminating against black and Latino officers isn’t the best qualification for the head of an urban police force. (The U.S. Department of Justice investigating similar claims is also not a check in the “pro” column.)
The board’s Appointments Committee rightly voted 611 against Murtha’s nomination. Martin last week pulled his candidate from a full board vote, delaying it for a month or two to try to garner more support while the court case plays out.
Then this week, U.S. District Court Judge Theodore Chuang granted a motion to remove Murtha from the bias suit. Chuang wrote the complaint didn’t provide “any example of (Murtha’s) direct involvement ... or his awareness as a supervisor and failure to address” allegations of discriminatory practices involving promotions, transfers, discipline and retaliation.
But the judge noted that should the plaintiffs “obtain additional facts that would support a claim against Murtha,” he would consider granting approval to file an amendment to the complaint.
Surely that’s just standard language for these kinds of cases. Seeing it in print, though, should make one yank the reigns on the Exoneration Express.
A brief the plaintiffs filed opposing the Murtha dismissal claims the 20year veteran officer allegedly falsified a fellow officer’s time sheets. Chaung, however, said the brief is not considered part of the complaint.
This is troubling. Murtha, this means, eventually could be added back into the suit though Maryland state and PG County attorneys say they have found no evidence of the time sheet allegation. However, given Stamford just weeks ago commenced legal action against four officers suspected of falsifying nearly $188,000 in payroll vouchers for extra duty, a longtime prickly subject among city taxpayers, such a specific allegation against Murtha should still give pause.
And let’s not forget, the DOJ investigation is yet to be resolved.
Mayor Martin needs to start considering another candidate to be top cop in case this saga continues to drag on. Internal or external, the next candidate needs to come without the slightest air of discrimination or financial funny business baggage. For if Martin wants to continue to brag about Stamford being the “Crown Jewel” of Connecticut, he can’t let his next police chief tarnish it.
And now for an update …
Several readers have contacted me asking for updates on my March 8 column in which I discuss myositis, a family of incurable and rare autoimmune diseases affecting the muscles and other systems. It’s what my 19yearold daughter (juvenile dermatomyositis) and rock guitarist Peter Frampton (inclusion body myositis) are battling.
Frampton, 68, is still rocking away to great reviews in the midst of his farewell tour ... oh, you wanted to know about my daughter?
Megan is doing great. Her latest treatment regimen appears to be successfully combating her skin issues and her muscles continue to be strong. She’s been working parttime, doing an internship and playing tennis regularly all summer.
However, one of the main medications she takes is now experiencing a nationwide shortage. Intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, is a blood product made from plasma and rich in antibodies. It helps people with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, especially rare ones that specific medications have not been developed to target. Demand for the drug has been steadily growing in recent years and manufacturers say they have been having issues keeping up.
Megan has been fortunate to date, but others have had treatments delayed, limited or denied. The need for these medications is likely continue to increase and, while manufacturers try to ramp up capacity, more plasma will be needed to make the drug. If you want to help, your local American Red Cross chapter should be able to direct you to a proper plasma donation facility.