After police commission suspension, Colchester examining future oversight
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Colchester First Selectwoman Mary BylonePeter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media
COLCHESTER Several weeks after officials voted to suspend the Colchester Police Commission over accusations of a “toxic work environment,” First Selectwoman Mary Bylone said the town is no closer to coming up with a more permanent solution for oversight of its force.
Bylone, who also serves as chief of police by way of being the town’s top administrator, said that possible options to resolve the issue at this point include bringing in a mediator to help settle internal conflicts on the commission or passing an ordinance to disband the group altogether.
A CT school board took police out of the budget. Officials intervened.
Christine DeRosa
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Colchester First Selectman May Bylone speaks to the media in this January file photo.Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media
COLCHESTER The Colchester Public Schools resource officer position at was deemed unnecessary, and was removed from the 2021-22 education board’s budget earlier this year, causing major backlash from the police commission.
On March 30, just days after the original fallout, Superintendent Jeffrey Burt added the SRO discussion to the Board of Education’s meeting agenda, according to an audio recording. That evening, members voted to reinstate the position. On May 11, a new agreement was reached between the police and schools, outlining the responsibilities and guidelines for the SRO, who will be stationed at Bacon Academy high school.