Crime & Safety

Newtown Officer With PTSD Won't Face Termination

Police Chief Michael Kehoe has rescinded a termination letter to the officer affected by the Dec. 14 shooting.

A Newtown police officer who has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder since Dec. 14 will not lose his job, police sources say.

Officer Thomas Bean has been unable to report to work for more than a year due to his response at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, his representatives say. In November, Bean received an intent-to-terminate letter from the town and was scheduled for a hearing to determine whether or not he would keep his job.

Kehoe rescinded the letter at a Police Commission meeting Tuesday night, said police union head Scott Ruszczyk. Kehoe told the Danbury News-Times he would not comment on the action.

"We're glad they rescinded the threat of termination," Ruszczyk said. "But that's only half the issue."

The town did not purchase insurance to cover the disability benefits spelled out in the union contract, Ruszczyk said. As a result, Bean will lose his disability benefits after two years rather than keeping them until retirement. Bean is scheduled to retire in 12 years. While the move means Bean will not immediately be fired, Ruszczyk said it doesn't prevent the town from taking action in the future.

"I wouldn't say it's guaranteed," he said, adding the union would "definitely" pursue litigation on Bean's behalf over the next year.

"These things can take up to a year," he said. "The pace is sometimes slow. With something this important, though, [hopefully] it won’t take as long as a year."

Bean's story drew national media attention, from CNN to the Huffington Post, after the town originally told him he would be let go. An online petition launched by Sandy Hook resident Karen Dryer urging the town not to fire Bean received 1,339 signatures.


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