{"id":4910,"date":"2022-03-17T12:29:52","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T12:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnJlZ2lzdGVyY2l0aXplbi5jb20vbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlL0V4LU5vcndhbGstY29wcy1kZWNlcnRpZmllZC1hZnRlci1wcm9iZS1mb3VuZC0xNzAwODQ3Mi5waHA_dD03MGY2M2Y0ZmM00gEA"},"modified":"2022-03-17T12:29:52","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T12:29:52","slug":"ex-norwalk-cops-decertified-after-probe-found-they-betrayed-the-public-trust-documents-show-torrington-register-citizen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=4910","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Norwalk cops decertified after probe found they ‘betrayed the public trust,’ documents show – Torrington Register Citizen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NORWALK \u2014 A state agency revoked the law enforcement certifications of two former city cops after an internal investigation by the Norwalk Police Department found they \u201cbetrayed the public trust\u201d by consuming alcohol on the job, documents show.<\/p>\n

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council voted last week to decertify former Norwalk police officers Michael DiMeglio, 39, and Sara Laudano, 32, effectively barring the two from working as police officers in Connecticut.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI was not surprised by their decision,\u201d Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said of the council\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

Norwalk police arrested DiMeglio and Laudano in January 2021, about three months after the two were caught in hotel room under the influence of alcohol while on duty<\/a>, according to arrest warrants and court records.<\/p>\n

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At the time of their arrest, police said officers found the pair at a Main Street hotel after a dispatcher could not reach Laudano over the radio or on her cellphone. Police also said Laudano had consumed alcohol and used a marijuana vape pen before driving her cruiser with a baby and another person while on duty.<\/p>\n

The officers were charged with second-degree larceny and second-degree reckless endangerment in connection with the incident. Laudano was also charged with risk of injury to a minor. Both were placed on administrative leave without pay before resigning last fall<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The state council voted to decertify the officers on March 10 after Norwalk police shared the findings of its internal affairs investigation and arrest warrants filed in the criminal case, according to agency memorandums obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.<\/p>\n

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The department\u2019s internal probe, the memos show, found that DiMeglio knowingly consumed alcohol on duty, left his post, slept on duty and neglected his police responsibilities.<\/p>\n

The department also found that Laudano knowingly consumed alcohol on duty, transported civilians in her police vehicle after consuming alcohol, left her post, slept on duty and neglected her responsibilities, the documents show.<\/p>\n

The memos reveal that DiMeglio and Laudano waived their right to a hearing with the council and voluntarily surrendered their certifications.<\/p>\n

Kulhawik said the officers resigned before the department could formally conclude its internal investigation and hand down a punishment.<\/p>\n

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