Major Crimes Probe Sustains Charges Against Montville Police Lt. Bunnell

The state major crimes investigation of Montville Police Lt. Leonard Bunnell found “sufficient evidence” that the veteran police officer unlawfully accessed the state criminal information database, according to an official document obtained by Montville Patch.  

In a June 19 letter from state police Bureau of Professional Standards and Compliance Commanding Officer Regina Rush-Kittle to Troop E Commanding Officer Lt. Samuel Izzzarelli Jr., it was noted that while the investigation has concluded, the findings would be forwarded to labor relations unit for “review and any administrative action that may be deemed appropriate.”

The charges being “sustained,” means, according to the letter, that there is “sufficient evidence to establish that (incidents occurred) and the facts and circumstances support the determination that (Bunnell’s) actions were contrary to existing policy.”

It is unclear if the action against Bunnell will result in charges. between October of 2011 and January of 2012.  

Izzarelli lodged the complaint against Bunnell after getting a report by a system auditor. The Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT) System lets users find information that the state has about people, and find motor vehicle and criminal history data on the national and international level.  Among a number of others, Bunnell performed checks for town administrators.

It has been generally understood that the investigation found Bunnell to be in violation, based on his own statement to fellow officers that he was being forced to retire. However, he changed his mind the following week, and Montville Mayor Ronald McDaniel said that Bunnell would soon be disciplined.  

of the story.” McDaniel said he would decide a punishment, tell Bunnell and the police union and, he said, he expects the discipline to be “grieved by the union.” It remains unclear what the discipline will be and when it will be meted out, if it hasn’t already.

Meanwhile, Bunnell, who had taken compensatory time off while the case was publicized, has returned to the police department “as if nothing has happened,” a dispatcher said.

This finding is similar to the workplace leveled against Bunnell by Montville Police School Resource Officer Karen Moorehead.

In that case, an investigator determined the allegations "generally happened," including inappropriate comments about Moorehead’s breasts and intimidation, but it was deemed the instances, while "inappropriate ...did not rise to the level” of workplace and sexual harassment and discrimination.

The state police have not yet released the entire COLLECT misuse investigation report; Montville Patch filed a Freedom of Information Act request for that file but a staff attorney implied it would likely be a long wait. 

And the report on the Moorehead claims of harassment, totaling some 1,000 pages, has not been released. The town is seeking $250 from Moorehead for a copy.