‘Morale here is still very good’
Norwalk police morale still high despite arrests of 3 officers in a month, chief says
NORWALK — Police Chief James Walsh found himself in an unenviable position this month when he had to issue a public statement about the arrest of a third member of his department in a span of a few weeks.
But despite the arrests in connection with the off-duty events, Walsh says the department’s morale remains high, productivity is up and crime is down in the city.
“All three of the incidents took place off-duty and were not under the color of law,” Walsh said in an interview. “This had nothing to do with their duties and morale hasn’t been affected. Morale here is still very good.”
On March 12, Walsh released a statement acknowledging the arrests “raised concerns” and likely had “shaken the trust that we have worked tirelessly to build within our community.”
“First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest reassurance to our community members: your safety and trust remain our top priorities,” Walsh said in the statement. “While recent events may cause uncertainty, I want to emphasize that these actions do not define our department as a whole. We are committed to transparency, accountability and upholding the highest standards of integrity.”
Mayor Harry Rilling, a former police chief in the city, has not returned requests for comment. Minutes from the Norwalk Police Commission’s February and March meetings indicate the issue of the arrested officers was not discussed in public.
In an interview last week, Walsh stressed the three officers were entitled to due process in the courts and in labor relations. He said the three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with the terms of their union contract. Each officer will be the subject of an internal affairs investigation that will be “based on the facts” from the criminal cases, he said. The IA investigations will determine if the officers violated any department policies, Walsh said.
The Norwalk Police Depart