MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- The state police union has claimed that a high-ranking department official received preferential treatment after being found to have violated department policy related to an order that an audio recording be erased.
The union says Lt. Col. Robert Corona, second in command of the state police, is being allowed to retire before serving a suspension.
Union President Andrew Matthews said Corona is accused of erasing a public record in June of 2012. Corona made a traffic stop and turned on the wireless microphone attached to his state police cruiser's video recorder, then mistakenly left the recorder on throughout the day, Matthews said.
Matthews said Corona subsequently ordered a state police staff member to erase the record.
State Police Spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said the Chief State's Attorney's office reviewed the incident at the request of State Police Col. Danny Stebbens, but found no criminal activity.
"There was never an order to erase anything of evidentiary value," Vance said.
Vance said the investigation found that there was a violation of department procedures and Stebbens referred the report to the agency's human resources department, which recommended a three- to five-day suspension.
Corona has not been suspended, and will retire soon before being subject to the discipline. The union said Corona will retire effective Dec. 1, but Vance said he did not know whether an effective date had been set.
Union officials held a press conference Tuesday at the state police headquarters to speak about what it perceives as preferential treatment to Corona.
"The purpose was to bring this matter of public concern forward because we believe there's a lack of transparency and consistency in enforcing the rules within this administration depending on what rank you are," Matthews said after the press conference. "It's unfair to our members."
The union wrote a letter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy at the end of October asking the governor to review the situation. In the letter, the union said it was concerned that Corona will be allowed to retire in good standing despite the recommended suspension. It also said it appears the incident has been left unaddressed because of favoritism in the organization.
Andrew Doba, a spokesman for Malloy, referred questions to state police.
"This incident happened 16 months ago," Matthews said. "It doesn't take them nearly that long to investigate and terminate one of our members."
Vance said when a state employee retires before taking a suspension, the discipline stays pending in case the person returns to state service. He said Corona can retire in good standing -- with a retirement badge -- because the incident was "not a fireable offense."
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