Former Newtown police Sgt. Domenic Costello and K-9 Officer Andrew Stinson were arrested in connection with stealing more than $90,000 each from the police union, officials said today.
Costello, 33, of Stratford, was charged with two counts of first-degree larceny and first-degree accessory to larceny while Stinson, 34, of Watertown, was charged with three counts of first-degree larceny and second-degree larceny. Both also were charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny and third-degree larceny.
The pair, who in October were placed on paid administrative leave and earlier this year resigned from their Newtown police jobs, turned themselves in on an arrest warrant Wednesday at the Danbury police department, officials said. Danbury has been handling the investigation.
An investigation into the two began Oct. 15 after Newtown police union members noticed irregularities in their bank accounts. Stinson was the union president and Costello was the treasurer.
Union officials said the two co-signed checks that allowed them to withdraw money from the police union account without anyone else knowing.
Up until the Wednesday news release, officials had been tight-lipped about how much money was taken. Officials said the two used more than $90,000 each in police union funds for their personal use during a period of three or more years.
Stinson was a nine-year police department veteran and Costello was a seven-year department veteran. Costello was promoted to a sergeant in 2009 and Stinson, who was the department's K-9 officer, had been a candidate for a sergeant position prior to the scandal.
According to town data, Stinson earned a gross salary of $83,842 while Costello earned $86,587 during fiscal year 2009-10.
The two were released on promises to appear in state Superior Court in Danbury on March 25.
Editor's note: The expected court appearance for the two former police officers has been added to this article.
Correction: The exact charges were incorrect in an earlier version of this article.
"The affidavits state that Sgt. Domenic Costello, at the time the Newtown Police Union treasurer, and Officer Andrew Stinson, then the president, said they "borrowed" the money to stave off foreclosures on their respective homes and pay personal bills. Those statements came during a meeting with the union's vice president and a Newtown detective on Oct. 14, three days after another officer expressed concern about their stewardship of the accounts, according to the affidavits." http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Court-papers-indicate-ex-Newtown-cops-borrowed-1179725.php
It was a bad and costly mistake by both officers. Who has not made a mistake? And yes, some are more costly than others. From now on , it becomes how these former officers pick themselves up. I, for one hope they do.
It was not a 'mistake'. It was stealing. It was calculated (transfering funds from one account to another), it was intentional... and they lied about not taking funds from the investment account. Their behavior is unexcusable and unacceptable.... they got caught and now they claim 'disorders and forclosures". They are not accepting accountability... shame on them.
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