@CPaullinNBH

BERLIN - In the wake of an article that published racial comments by former mayor and current Police Commission member Bob Peters, town officials and others in the community have weighed in with varying opinions.

Peters, 82, was recorded as having said he teaches “how to shoot f------ n------,” in March 2018 at a local auto shop where local residents meet informally. The Herald published an article on Thursday reporting on the recording, in which Peters also spoke against “queers,” “aliens” and said, “We got [inaudible] guys who like to shoot f-----’ blacks.”

“It doesn’t sound like him,” said Paul Eshoo, chairman of the Police Commission, which oversees the Police Department. “It sounds like somebody set him up.”

Eshoo, like Peters a member of the Republican Party, said he has known Peters for a while and the two are friends. Peters served honorably as a police officer, mayor and state representative, Eshoo said.

Eshoo said he wanted to investigate the matter further and speak with other commission members before commenting further, but he said no crime had been committed and Peters has the right to free speech.

Peters should not step down from his position, Eshoo said.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed in the remarks he allegedly made,” said Berlin police union President John Flynn. “We don’t condone that language and it does not represent how the Berlin police deal with anyone. Our officers are highly trained professionals that treat the public with the upmost respect.”

Ron Davis, president of the New Britain chapter of the NAACP, said, “For anyone to speak like that against people is hate.”

Making the comments, Davis said, was a hate crime, which he defined as an act that makes a group of people fearful. Davis said the comments have made him fear driving through Berlin. Peters should serve jail time and resign from his position, Davis said.

“It’s a real issue,” Davis said, of the overall relationship between the African-American community and police members. Comments like Peters’ sanction officers to profile their arrests and ticketing, and influence Peters’ decision making on public policy, he added.

“These comments indicate some real bias at play,” said David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut. They also undermine Peter’s ability to be an impartial authority over the Police Department, he said.

While a thorough investigation should be done, and Peters has a right to free speech, McGuire said, the comments show Peters’ inability to do his job properly. McGuire urged the town’s residents to call for his resignation.

“I hope he didn’t say that,” said Democratic Town Councilor Peter Rosso, who served in the General Assembly in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Rosso said he’s never heard Peters say anything like what he is reported to have said in the recording.

Police Commission members are elected, with no other authority overseeing them. Rosso said he would be open to exploring changing the Town Charter to have the council oversee the commission.

Mayor Mark Kaczynski declined to comment saying there were too many unknowns with the situation.

Police Chief John Klett and Republican Town Committee Chairman Anne Reilly did not return requests for comment Thursday.

The posting of the article on The Herald’s Facebook page has received 36 reactions, 21 shares and 12 comments, mostly of shock and disbelief,

“Dear God, who talks like that? Shameful!” wrote Suzanne Parlow.

“Just words. Not a big deal. In his years in the BPD did He (sic) discriminate against anybody???? Any investigation should be about actions and not about stupid words,” wrote Jose Camarena Bataller.

Charles Paullin can be reached at 860-801-5074 or cpaullin@centralctcommunications.com.