Jan. 04--Detective William Jennings, a veteran officer who was suspended last year after an internal investigation found he violated the law, has apparently resigned, town Human Resources Director Ron Ing said Wednesday morning.
"My understanding is that he did submit his paperwork," Ing said. "I heard he made a request to be retired. I'm not sure if it's a letter of resignation or not. I believe he did it maybe on Friday."
Ing said he is meeting with Acting Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour this morning to discuss Jennings' apparent resignation after 23 years on the force.
Jennings was accused of assault April 18 by David Fredericks, a 39-year-old landscaping business owner, during a dispute outside Fredericks' home on Chapel Street.
An internal investigation found Jennings committed disorderly conduct and first-degree criminal trespass, violated two Stratford Police Department ethics policies and violated his oath of office during the dispute with Fredericks.
On June 20, Jennings, who for the last nine years has worked on a regional U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force, was pulled off the task force and reassigned to town police work.
On Sept. 14, the department suspended him for 15 working days without pay.
A month after his suspension was imposed, Jennings filed a complaint against the Police Department and the town of Stratford with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
In the 14-page grievance, Jennings details what he describes as a deep-seated culture of animosity among some members of the police department. He said his removal from the DEA task force and the investigation against him is retaliation for speaking out about unethical activity within the department and because he is paid at a higher rate than most other officers.
"The retaliation is ongoing ... and includes my being removed from the task force which I have been a part of for 9 years and there existing no basis for my removal, frivolous internal affairs investigations and my being denied overtime I am entitled to," according to the complaint.
Town Attorney Tim Bishop has said the complaint filed by Jennings is without merit.
The state has not yet made any decisions in response to Jennings' complaint, a CHRO spokesman said.
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