Mayor Demands Police Commission Vice Chair Resign

In the latest shot across the bow in the between the and Board of Police Commissioners, Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr is demanding the resignation of the board's Vice Chairman Carl Perez.

In the letter, dated April 19, Mayor Maturo cites for second-degree threatening by the East Haven Police Department as a "conflict of interest" that should prohibit him from serving on the board.

Perez was after he allegedly threatened a male student while serving in his job as a security official at East Haven High School.

"Continuing to serve would require you to make unbiased decisions about the very department which called for and effectuated your recent arrest," Maturo writes in his letter. "This fact, inherently, raises a conflict."

Maturo's letter — which is posted in the gallery that accompanies this article — was mailed to Perez yesterday, according to the Mayor's Office. A copy was also sent to East Haven Democratic Town Committee Chairman Gene Ruocco.

The mayor stated that upon receiving the vice chairman's resignation, he would appoint another "prominent" former Democratic town official to serve out the remainder of Perez's term.

"Upon the dismissal of your case or a finding of not-guilty, I will ask your replacement to step aside so that you may resume the unexpired portion of your term," the mayor wrote. "Any other resolution of your case would be evaluated upon its conclusion."

The following is Mayor Maturo's full letter to Perez:

"It is a conflict of interest for you to serve as a Police Commissioner during the pendency of your criminal action. Continuing to serve would require you to make unbiased decisions about the very department which called for and effectuated your recent arrest. This fact, inherently, raises a conflict.

As a result, I would like you to submit to me your resignation from the Board of Police Commissioners so that I may appoint a new commissioner in advance of the next meeting. I will agree to appoint prominent former Town officials such as Attorney Michael Albis, former Mayor Hank Luzzi, former Representative Michael Lawlor, or Robert Limoncelli in your place so as to preserve the Democratic majority of the Board in your absence. Upon the dismissal of your case or a finding of not-guilty, I will ask your replacement to step aside so that you may resume the unexpired portion of your term. Any other resolution of your case would be evaluated upon its conclusion.

My goal is to solve the issue of your conflict without causing a political battle over the resolution. I am not looking to disrupt the Democratic majority representation of the Board. I am only seeking to ensure that the individuals who sit on the Board are in the proper position to make the difficult decisions that lie ahead. We must both agree to put politics aside and put the best interests of the Town first.

I hope that you will accept this invitation, as I believe it is in the best interests of the Town of East Haven. lt is imperative, in light of the challenges presented by recent events, that we take appropriate action to preserve the integrity of the Police Commission. lt is my hope that a non-partisan agreement on the resolution of this issue can be the first step in improving relations between the Town and the Board of Police Commissions moving forward.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, I look forward to your prompt response in this regard."