[UPDATED w/ballot] Police Union Votes 'No-Confidence' in Capone, Nappi and Commission

Updated at 11:45 a.m. on Monday

The proposed no confidence vote ballot has been added to the gallery that accompanies this article at the right.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. on Friday

Richard Gudis, attorney for the union that represents East Haven police officers, told Patch this afternoon that of 49 officers who are union members at the department: 5 abstained from voting and the remaining 97 percent — or all but 2 — voted "no confidence" in Mayor April Capone, Acting Chief of Police Gaetano Nappi and the town's Board of Police Commissioners.

A copy of the no confidence vote is included in the gallery with this article at the right.

Gudis said the vote was a way for East Haven officers to vocalize their frustration with what they believe is a lack of leadership and proper management of the department on the part of Capone, Nappi and current police commissioners.

The mayor, however, said the vote has more to do with union executives' frustration with her unwillingness to "unconditionally denounce " into leveled against the department.

"That would be very irresponsible of me to do, to comment on an ongoing investigation," Capone told Patch late Friday afternoon.

She added that while it has been frustrating for her as a town official to deal with the investigation itself, while also not being able to speak about it as well, it must be even more difficult for the town's police officers.

"I can't imagine how frustrating it has been,"Capone said.

Capone noted that four years ago, Local 1662 also held a no confidence vote against Police Chief Leonard Gallo and former Mayor Joseph Maturo weeks before the 2007 town election, which Maturo lost to Capone. 

Gallo, who was the subject of by the police commission in June, has been on paid administrative leave from his post since April 2010.

against Capone, a Democrat, in next month's mayoral election.

"No matter who is mayor," Capone says. "This investigation is not going to go away."

Nappi did not immediately return requests for comment on the union's voting results.

Updated at 9:30 a.m. on Friday

The East Haven police union has voted "no-confidence" in Mayor April Capone, Acting Chief of Police Gaetano Nappi and the town's Board of Police Commissions, according to a report in the New Haven Register.

East Haven Patch will provide reaction and additional updates as they become available.

Original Story

The East Haven police union's 24-hour vote of "no-confidence" in Mayor April Capone, Acting Chief of Police Gaetano Nappi and the town's Board of Police Commissioners was expected to be conclude at 8:30 a.m. this morning, according to a report in the New Haven Register.

The vote — which began at 8:30 a.m. yesterday — was conducted by paper ballot at the.

Union officials announced last week they would hold the no confidence vote for members of Local 1662 of Council 15, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) on Thursday against Capone, Nappi and police commissioners.

Union lawyer Richard Gudis said the union decided Sept. 28 to hold the no confidence vote because Capone and Nappi had failed to address deficiencies identified in a Justice Department report issued in April 2010.

Police Chief Leonard Gallo was placed on paid administrative leave and replaced by Nappi following the receipt of the report.

Although no results have yet been released, Nappi and Capone that the union's complaints are unfounded.

East Haven Patch will update this story as results of the vote and/or more information becomes available.