Maturo: Gallo's Decision to Retire 'A Selfless Act'

Update at 1:30 p.m.

A new search commitee will soon be formed to find a new head of the , after Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr announced today during a press conference at Town Hall he has accepted the retirement of embattled East Haven Chief of Police Leonard Gallo.

Maturo said he accepted Gallo's intention to retire from his town position on Friday. The police chief's retirement will become effective Feb. 3.

In the interim, Deputy Chief John Mannion will step in to serve as the acting head of the police department.

"Chief Gallo has always been an unwavering supporter of the Town of East Haven. He has been a devoted public servant, and performed admirably in both his personal and professional life," Maturo told the press today. "His decision to retire at this time is a selfless act, designed to assist in the healing process. I thank him for his years of devoted service and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Maturo's complete prepared statement to the press has been posted in the gallery that accompanies this article. A video of Maturo delivering those remarks has also been posted.

East Haven Patch will continue to provide updates as this ongoing story continues to develop.

And additional video footage from today's press conference will be posted, as well.

Update at 10:20 a.m.

The press at East Haven Town Hall is still awaiting Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr's 11 a.m. press conference.

But with the confirmation that East Haven Police Chief Leonard Gallo did, indeed, resign from his post on Friday, it appears that any move to disqualify Gallo from his severance package is moot — even if the now-former chief is among the next wave of East Haven police officers arrested by federal authorities, as many expect to happen sometime soon.

East Haven Board of Police Commissioners Fred Brow told East Haven Patch a short time ago that the commission would be formally requesting Mayor Joseph Maturo terminate Gallo's contract at its meeting tomorrow evening.

By terminating Gallo, the police chief would not be entitled to his severance package, as well as accrued sick and vacation time.

But now, with Gallo already handing in his resignation, it appears the town will be on the hook for the severance package payments.

Gallo's pension plan is not run by the town, but instead managed by the state, Brow told East Haven Patch. Any move to disqualify Gallo from his pension would have to come from state authorities.

Update at 7:45 a.m. on Monday

Multiple news outlets are reporting this morning that will be stepping down today from his post as the head of the .

Still no official word on what time or where the press conference announcing this move will be held later this morning.

East Haven Patch will be heading to this morning and will provide updates via our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Original Story (Sunday at 11:20 p.m.)

East Haven Patch has learned tonight that John Einhorn, the attorney for embattled East Haven Police Chief , has alerted several regional news outlets tonight that there will be a press conference tomorrow morning concerning Gallo.

No information on the topic of that meeting with the press — or specifics at to when or where it will be held — has yet been made available to East Haven Patch.

The press conference itself, however, has been confirmed by Amanda Raus, a reporter for NBC Connecticut News, via a post on her Twitter account a few minutes ago:

News conference in #EastHaven tomorrow morning could answer the question of whether or not the Chief will be stepping down. Stay tuned!

Eihorn did not contact East Haven Patch regarding tomorrow morning's reported press conference.

East Haven Patch will continue to provide updates as this story continues to develop tomorrow morning.