Maturo: Guilty Verdict 'Opportunity to Close Difficult Chapter' for East Haven

The following is a press release from the East Haven Mayor's Office.

Regarding the results of the federal criminal trial involving David Cari and Dennis Spaulding, Mayor Maturo issued the following statement:

“Today’s verdict is a painful, although important step in the healing process for the Town of East Haven and for the East Haven Police Department.   

For some in our community, today’s verdict provides a sense of vindication and closure.  For others, especially our Police family, it is a difficult and sad occasion.  What is clear is that for all of our residents, it is an opportunity to close a difficult chapter in our Town’s past and move forward as one, unified community. 

As we move forward after today, it is not enough that we simply talk about unity.  We must promote a reality of unity through both our words and our acts.  Working with the Department of Justice, we have done that by opening up our police department and holding community meetings; by offering cultural sensitivity training to Town employees; by providing language access tools to residents with limited English proficiency and by utilizing the Town’s Interfaith Faith Council to open up meaningful dialogue with residents about the concerns they have.  

We cannot, and we will not, allow the scars of the past to prevent us from building a better future for our community.  We all play a role in charting the course forward for East Haven.  As we move forward, we will strive to promote tolerance, compassion, and cooperation in all of the capacities in which our government serves our residents.   

I implore the residents of our community to acknowledge today’s verdict, regardless of your individual opinion of it, as an opportunity to move forward. I know we can, and I know we will – together.”