Police brutality suits: New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, East Haven face most complaints in Greater New Haven

Gustavo Morales sued New Haven in 2011, claiming police punched him in the face while he was already handcuffed and offering no resistance. The lawsuit claimsÊMorales lost consciousness during the alleged beating. less Gustavo Morales sued New Haven in 2011, claiming police punched him in the face while he was already handcuffed and offering no resistance. The lawsuit claimsÊMorales lost consciousness during the alleged ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Police brutality suits: New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, East Haven face most complaints in Greater New Haven 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

While a federal probe concluded that unreasonable force was tolerated and encouraged in East Haven's police department, three other Greater New Haven departments are facing more lawsuits alleging police brutality, a New Haven Register investigation found.

New Haven, Hamden, West Haven and East Haven have the bulk of the region's legal complaints alleging excessive force -- and attorneys representing those who are suing claim the departments have a problem and need to take action.

RELATED: View a list of cases by town here.

PHOTOS: Alleged victims of excessive force

RELATED: College student alleges Hamden police subjected him to 'vicious and brutal beating'

The claims allege punching, kicking and using a Taser on people already in custody. A small number of the excessive-force cases claim police targeted minorities and subjected people to racial taunts.

The Register counted all excessive-force lawsuits, notices of intent to sue and human rights complaints against area police departments filed in municipal clerks' offices for five years, through December 2012.

New Haven, the area's largest city and a regional entertainment center, faced the most cases, 34, followed by Hamden with 12, West Haven with 11 and East Haven with six. When population is factored in, New Haven still had the highest rate, followed by East Haven, West Haven and Hamden.

In comparison, Hartford, which is similar in population to New Haven, had almost double the Elm City's number, 66 excessive force lawsuits or notices of intent to sue, during the same five-year period, according to the Hartford Office of the Corporation Counsel.

Other communities in the New Haven region had two excessive force complaints at most. Some towns, such as Wallingford, Cheshire, Madison and Guilford, had none in the five-year time frame.

"New Haven does have a history of brutality and misconduct, and we have had police officers that have stepped out of line," said Yusuf Shah, a former New Haven Alderman. "I think we still have a problem in New Haven. We have to strive to get the right police officers, and when we find we have the wrong officers, we need to get them off the force. I think Hamden does have a serious problem with their police officers, too, and East Haven, we have been hearing about (issues there) for years."

The case of one New Haven officer, Dennis O'Connell, illustrates the gray area involving some brutality lawsuits. O'Connell was sued four times for alleged excessive force in the five-year time period.

Police looked into the complaints and ultimately found no wrongdoing and determined no discipline was warranted, according to New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman. The city settled one of these cases for $50,000, while the rest are pending.

Last month, O'Connell was promoted to detective, a promotion Esserman said was "merited."

"He took the exam and passed it, and he has excellent recommendations and support from the community," Esserman said. "The allegations against him were thoroughly investigated."

Esserman said of the amount of excessive force litigation against the city compared to the rest of the region, "No one is going to have what New Haven has because we are so big -- the size of the city drives the amount."

But some in the community argue that the problem runs deeper, in New Haven and some neighboring towns.

Attorney John Williams of New Haven, who represents clients in several cases against multiple communities, said he thinks East Haven is the worst offender, but the other communities with a large number of claims also have a problem.

"I think there are a surprisingly large number of brutality complaints against Hamden in recent years," Williams said. "My impression is that Hamden seems to be vying for the title of most brutal police department in New Haven County."

John Lugo, an organizer with Unidad Latina en Accion, said he isn't surprised by the results, and they mirror his agency's observations.

"In New Haven, we have seen a great number of cases, and the city prefers to pay to settle lawsuits but keep police officers on the streets abusing the community. I feel people fear the (New Haven) police department. There needs to be more training and changes. I see issues in Hamden and West Haven, too. In the towns where there is not a lot of racial diversity, there is not as much police brutality."

The federal probe in East Haven resulted in the arrests last year of four officers accused of civil rights offenses. The town has since entered into an agreement with the Justice Department for reforms, including consistent reporting and thorough reviews of the use of force.

The attorney general's office reported finding 14 excessive force cases filed against state police in this timeframe. State police cover smaller communities that don't have their own police departments.

"Considering we are the largest police department in the state, and are responsible for about 50 percent of the cities and towns in Connecticut, that is not too bad," said state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance. "We do our best to perform professionally for everyone we encounter."

Jon Bloch, a professor of sociology at Southern Connecticut State University, said people should be careful about assuming that if police in a particular town have a lot of lawsuits that they must be more brutal.

However, he said it can indicate a potential problem and the police should look at and address it.

"If you live in a town with a high rate of incidents, definitely people should be concerned about it and made aware of it," Bloch said. "(Police) really need to get to the heart of the problem -- does it have to do with training? Or are the claims bogus?"

New Haven

Attorney Paul Garlinghouse of New Haven, who represents several individuals who have sued New Haven police, showed the Register photographs of his clients' injuries, images that show bruising and bloodied skin.

"These pictures show the reason people are afraid," Garlinghouse said. "The number of complaints is very small compared to the number of actual beatings -- because people are afraid of the police. They are afraid to make complaints."

Garlinghouse represented Abel Sanchez, who got the $50,000 settlement in 2011 after filing a lawsuit against O'Connell that claimed Sanchez was punched, kicked while on the ground, and pepper sprayed while offering no resistance.

"I don't take a lot of police brutality cases; it was particularly egregious with Mr. Sanchez," Garlinghouse said. "I could not anticipate I would stumble into other folks with photos and witnesses to back up their stories. It is not just about Dennis O'Connell. There is an environment at the Police Department, that it is OK to beat people up. We will whitewash the internal affairs investigation and not suspend or fire you."

Alvaro Garzon of New Haven, another of Garlinghouse's clients, is suing O'Connell, police and the city in federal court for $1.5 million in compensatory damages, claiming O'Connell used excessive force against him during an arrest in July 2010. The lawsuit claims O'Connell tasered Garzon in the face and neck area multiple times while he was handcuffed, and that the officer applied his knee to Garzon's neck.

Another client, Gustavo Morales of New Haven, sued O'Connell and New Haven in 2011, claiming he was punched in the face while handcuffed and offering no resistance, and even lost consciousness. Garlinghouse also represents the Avila family in its litigation.

Attorneys representing officers have asserted in court documents that any use of force was reasonable and justified.

"In both New Haven and East Haven, clearly there is a racial component to these complaints," Garlinghouse said. "There is a strong component of treating people differently because of their race. That is one of the big factors driving the brutality."

But Garlinghouse acknowledged he is not suing over any racial issue. All of his clients in the excessive force lawsuits are either Hispanic or black, he said.

One excessive force case against New Haven police in the five-year period, filed by Albert Eaddy of Hamden, is pending and makes allegations of racial profiling and discrimination on the basis of race.

Esserman stressed that he wants citizens to feel comfortable approaching the department with any complaints. When he came to New Haven, Esserman doubled the size of internal affairs, from four to eight investigators. The department is also a seven-day operation now, up from five days, police said. Internal affairs officers will also make house calls, if people aren't comfortable coming to the department.

Esserman said his decision to expand internal affairs was not in response to excessive force complaints. Esserman said he made the change because it is frustrating for citizens who make complaints -- and for officers who are the subject of them -- to have to wait for a resolution.

"My marching order to internal affairs is to 'seek the truth,' and that is their responsibility," said Esserman, who was sworn in as New Haven's chief in late 2011. "People generally have concerns about whether any institution can investigate itself. I think in New Haven confidence has grown significantly that we can police ourselves."

Lt. Anthony Duff, officer in charge of internal affairs for the New Haven Police Department, whose office handles civilian complaint forms, but not litigation, said many excessive force claims are related to the city being a regional entertainment center, with thousands coming to the city to go to nightclubs and bars.

"The city draws people in from the surrounding area for work and entertainment," Duff said. "We get more than our share of visitors who sometimes get arrested, particularly in the entertainment district."

According to New Haven Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden, of the 34 cases filed against the city involving allegations of excessive force from 2008 to 2012, many have been resolved through judgments in the city's favor.

In eight of the cases, the claims against the city were either dismissed or a jury sided with police.

The city has settled six of the cases, for amounts ranging from $1,000 to $65,000. The total amount of the settlements for these six cases came to $157,500.

Twenty of the 34 excessive force cases against New Haven remain unresolved.

"There is a tendency to draw broad conclusions about the filing of a lawsuit, and excessive force cases are no different," Bolden said. "Once filed, however, such cases are often dismissed or resolved by a settlement, which may reflect more upon the costs associated with protracted litigation than the merits of the case."

The largest New Haven settlement came in the case of Derrick Gilliam of Bridgeport, who got $65,000 after suing three New Haven police officers. According to the lawsuit, Gilliam had been passing out fliers outside Van Dome nightclub on Hamilton Street in 2008 to promote the business, when police told him to stop and leave the area. Gilliam moved to a different location, but continued to pass out his fliers. The lawsuit claimed police then arrested him and beat him with a club or nightstick.

"There were three policemen involved, and they knocked him around pretty good," said attorney Gary Mastronardi of Bridgeport, who represented Gilliam. "After he was subdued, his head was banged against a stone wall. He had a big black and blue mark on his face."

Esserman said police have taken action when finding wrongdoing -- pointing to the arrests of three officers in connection with an off-duty gunfire incident last April outside a State Street bar. While no one was injured, police said they consider that case to be an excessive force incident because firing a weapon is an act of force. One officer has been fired and two others were suspended without pay pending the outcome of their criminal cases.

Shah applauded Esserman for his handling of such cases, calling it "refreshing" that Esserman took action, though Shah noted the case had attracted a lot of media and public attention.

Shah said he believes there have been some improvements under Esserman's leadership, but police brutality "hasn't stopped and we have a long way to go."

Also last year, Esserman suspended Sgt. Chris Rubino for 15 days for using excessive force outside a city nightclub, after Rubino was found to have put his boot on the back of the neck of a Bridgeport man, Horace Rawlings. Rubino subsequently retired.

"The FBI reviewed it, and found no civil rights violations, but we nevertheless disciplined the officer. We saw violations we thought were serious," Esserman said. "New Haven police have arrested, fired and disciplined their own. We have officers who have crossed the line, and we are very serious about it. Officers are asked to treat citizens with dignity and respect. Sometimes the complaints are founded, and other times the complaints are made-up."

New Haven Assistant Chief Thaddeus Reddish said often, an officer is attacked, and then the person who attacked ends up getting hurt when the officer acts in self-defense.

"When you look at the totality, the officer hasn't done anything wrong," Reddish said.

In any given year, New Haven's Internal Affairs Division gets about 150 to 165 civilian complaints, and most allege rudeness, according to Duff. Between 2008 and 2012, Internal Affairs got 218 complaints of excessive force, according to statistics provided by Duff.

In addition to the 2012 disciplinary actions, Duff said an officer was suspended for five days in 2010 for a Taser use incident, and an officer got a written reprimand for excessive force while handcuffing an individual.

In response to Garlinghouse's assertion that people are afraid of police and afraid to complain, Duff said his office will take and review anonymous complaints.

"It is our job to investigate any and all complaints," Duff said. "We try to make the complaint process as open as possible. The role of Internal Affairs is to seek the truth, and to investigate misconduct or allegations of misconduct. This department has a long history of disciplining its officers."

The complaint forms, in both English and Spanish, are available on the police department's website, at www.cityofnewhaven.com/police.

HAMDEN

Williams also is representing several individuals who have lodged complaints and lawsuits against Hamden police.

"Considering the size of the community and the number of reports that many of us lawyers have received about brutality, (reports) bad enough to prompt us to file lawsuits, it suggests that we have a department that is out of control," Williams said. "It is out of control because the administration has determined they are just going to let it happen."

Of the 12 cases filed against Hamden police during the five-year period the Register used for its tally, eight are pending, one was settled, one was withdrawn and two were dismissed.

One of Williams' clients, a college student, Michael Wood, claims police used a Taser on him while he was on his knees with his hands behind his head, and he claims police kicked and punched him.

One incident not included in the tally that has received considerable public scrutiny involves another Williams client, Vester Williams of New Haven. John Williams said he plans to file an excessive force case against Hamden police for their conduct toward Vester Williams. The two men are not related.

Hamden police charged Vester Williams Sept. 19, 2011, with possessing less than an ounce of marijuana and interfering with officers, though a nolle was later entered in court for both counts, meaning prosecutors opted not to pursue the charges.

Vester Williams has claimed he was hit by a Taser at least seven times and was bleeding from the forehead from his encounter with police Officers Timothy Brown and William May.

Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra lodged charges against Brown following an internal review of the incident, including conduct unbecoming an officer and intentional unnecessary or excessive force in effecting an arrest. The police commission orally reprimanded Brown after faulting him solely for failing to write a supplemental report on the incident.

John Williams said he has been waiting to see if the police commission would take action, but as far as he is concerned, they have done "nothing."

"That sends a message that it is OK," John Williams said. "It shows Hamden has not recognized it has a problem -- they need to, and then take action, with new, strong leadership."

Meanwhile, Brown in January filed a complaint with the state Department of Labor because he was assigned to be a court liaison officer, rather than allowed to return to the midnight patrol shift after his return to active duty. Police said Brown has since returned to the patrol division.

Another man, Aaron Hebron of Hamden, filed a complaint in March 2011 with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, claiming he was retaliated against and harassed because of his race. Attorney Benita Lee, who represents Hebron, who is black, said her client was stunned with a Taser after he made a citizen complaint.

"We feel the excessive force was retaliatory. We feel he has been (racially) profiled," said Lee.

According to his pending complaint, Hebron filed incident reports in May 2010, then in June was charged with inciting to riot, third-degree criminal trespass, second-degree breach of peace and assault on a police officer. In July 2010, he filed complaints against the two police officers for his arrest in June. In January 2011, he was arrested and charged with filing false incident reports.

Hebron was sentenced last May to serve six months in prison for a second-degree threatening conviction, according to the state judicial branch. Court records show Hebron has multiple convictions, for charges ranging from interfering with an officer to making a false statement.

Of the Hamden Police Department, Lee said, "They don't handle complaints that come in about their officers. The typical response is they want to point the finger at the victim, instead of focusing on the officers' behavior."

The only other Hamden excessive force case that makes any allegation of a racial issue is that of Anthony Randolph, a black man who claims police beat him, and that a police officer said to him, "You people should be used to walking without shoes." An attorney representing the town and police, James Williams of North Haven, has said the police conducted themselves professionally, and Randolph's claims were thoroughly investigated and could not be substantiated. Police have said Randolph used a derogatory racial term aimed at Caucasians.

Hamden reached a settlement agreement last year for a 2008 federal lawsuit against several Hamden police officers. The lawsuit, filed by Stephen and Nicholas Alberino, claimed a group of police officers "brutally assaulted" them in their Glenbrook Avenue home on Oct. 16, 2007. The plaintiffs claimed they were punched and kicked.

Attorneys involved in the case have refused to disclose the amount of the settlement. The New Haven Register has filed a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission to obtain the amount.

While it came before the five-year period used for the Register's tally, Hamden in 2012 opted to settle a late 2007 unreasonable force case for $125,000. That case claimed Hamden police used unreasonable force by using a Taser on David Mills, 26, "four or more times." Mills died, and the chief state medical examiner ruled his death an accident, caused by "excited delirium," with PCP intoxication a contributing factor.

Wydra declined to comment on any pending litigation.

"Obviously, I would prefer to have zero excessive force complaints," Wydra said. "Police work by its very nature is dangerous and difficult, and at times officers have to become physical with people. Sometimes it is a job necessity."

Wydra noted that in many cases that have resulted in excessive force litigation against the department, the complainant was convicted in connection with the incident.

"We strongly discourage officers from using excessive force in the course of their duties," Wydra said. "We provide officers with the most robust training curriculum in the state. We also encourage individuals to make complaints if they believe they are the victim of excessive force. We vigorously investigate excessive force complaints. We understand how serious it is when someone makes an excessive force complaint against this department."

Attorney Scott Karsten, who is defending Hamden police in several cases, noted, "It is so common for an arrested individual to make claims of excessive force."

"The reality is that a lot of cases have to go to trial because it comes down to the police officer's word versus the arrestee's word," Karsten said. "Some cases settle just because of the cost of defending them through trial."

The Hamden Police Department is in the process of acquiring 36 body cameras for officers to wear. Officers are expected to start using the cameras in May.

"There are many reasons for it," Wydra said. "We always seek to take advantage of technology to improve our effectiveness. One of the benefits is protection against frivolous lawsuits, though that is not the sole or primary reason. We know from studies that cameras improve the behavior of both citizens and police officers because they know they are being recorded. There is also an advantage from an investigative standpoint."

WEST HAVEN

In West Haven, police had 11 lawsuits or notices of intent to sue alleging excessive force filed in the five-year period.

Of these, three ultimately settled for a total of $131,500, two were dismissed or withdrawn, and six remain unresolved.

Attorney Glenn Formica of New Haven has represented clients in three of the 11 cases. Formica said he has taken brutality cases that also involve police interactions with immigrants.

While Formica's lawsuits don't accuse police of racial profiling, his cases do claim that police mocked his clients for speaking Spanish during their encounters, and faults the Police Department for failing to train officers to deal with people who don't speak English.

None of the other excessive force cases against West Haven included any allegations of derogatory comments toward Spanish-speaking individuals.

Formica's client, Carolina Roman, who works as a food truck vendor, filed a lawsuit in federal court in October seeking a minimum of $1 million in damages.

Roman claims Officer Jeffrey Carleton approached her food truck in an "aggressive and intimidating" manner and demanded to see her vending permit, then loudly told her patrons to leave. The lawsuit alleges that Carleton demanded to know if she was a U.S. citizen, grabbed her by the wrist, forced her down on the food-preparation table and handcuffed her.

Roman alleges that when she asked why she was being placed in handcuffs, she was told to "shut up," and Carleton shoved her through the door and down the truck steps, causing her to stumble and fall. Roman claims police used racial slurs and taunts, and "maliciously mocked and humiliated" her in front of her customers.

The lawsuit claims she was injured in the encounter with police, including contusions and abrasions to her arms, wrists and hands, soreness in her left arm and shoulders, and moderate to severe pain in her back.

The lawsuit faults city police administration for failing to have adequate policies for conduct toward non-English speaking people.

"I think the problem with West Haven is that it is a town that became a city, but still feels it is a town," Formica said. "They have few, if any, Spanish-speaking police officers, yet West Haven has a significant Hispanic population."

West Haven Deputy Police Chief Joseph Perno said two officers of the 118 member department speak Spanish, and more officers are being sent to classes to learn Spanish.

West Haven's Hispanic population is at about 11,000 residents, according to the Connecticut Economic Resource Center Inc.

Formica also represented Ricardo and Yamileidi Azana and their child in a federal civil case that alleged excessive and unreasonable force. The lawsuit stemmed from an October 2009 incident in which police entered their home on William Street in West Haven, during a birthday party. The lawsuit claims police assaulted Ricardo Azana and knocked him to the floor, then mocked the family and their guests for speaking Spanish. It claims he suffered lacerations, contusions and abrasions to the face, wrists and hands, and painful headaches.

The case went to trial, and a jury in March 2012 found Officer Brian Bogert committed assault and battery, and the jury awarded $119,000 in damages. According to a settlement document, the case ultimately settled for $110,000.

West Haven Deputy Corporation Counsel Lee Tiernan asserted that none of the litigation against West Haven involved any serious injuries, but declined to comment further.

When asked about the amount of excessive force cases against West Haven police, West Haven Corporation Counsel Peter Barrett said, "It is a very densely populated city. I think people in general are very appreciative of the efforts of our Police Department."

EAST HAVEN

East Haven, which is about half the size of Hamden and West Haven, with its population of 29,257 as of 2010, has been the target of a Justice Department probe, in part due to allegations of excessive force.

A proposed agreement between the Justice Department and the town includes plans for reforms. It would include "the development of current policies on use of force and measures that provide for comprehensive training, consistent force reporting, and thorough force reviews and investigations by supervisors and the internal affairs officer," according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Four officers were charged in connection with the federal probe.

In September, East Haven Sgt. John Miller pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to violating an individual's civil rights by using unreasonable force during the course of an arrest.

Miller, who awaits sentencing, admitted that on Jan. 3, 2010, in the course of making an arrest, he struck a handcuffed individual while the victim was in the secure custody of two other East Haven officers, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

In October, East Haven Officer Jason Zullo pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction stemming from his filing of a false police report in order to prevent a possible excessive force investigation. On Oct. 18, 2008, Zullo struck a motorcycle with his police car at least twice during a chase, according to the government. The motorcycle crashed, with two individuals who were on it being thrown to the ground. While Zullo contends that he unintentionally collided with the motorcycle, he admitted with his plea that he omitted facts from his police report to obstruct any potential investigation of criminal excessive force, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Zullo also awaits sentencing. Two other officers, David Cari and Dennis Spaulding, were charged with civil rights offenses in connection with the government probe and await trial.

When asked if other towns with a high number of lawsuits should be scrutinized by federal investigators, attorney John Williams asserted that they should, though Williams said he doesn't think the other towns are "as bad as East Haven."

Williams also represents Robert Salatto, who has excessive force litigation pending against East Haven. Salatto was the operator of the motorcycle in the Zullo incident. "I do think East Haven was a special case," Williams said.

Thomas Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to comment.

Daniel Curtin, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said the agency won't confirm or deny the existence of any investigation, when asked if the agency is interested in other area communities with a high number of excessive force litigation.

"The town takes all claims of civil rights violations very seriously," East Haven Town Attorney Joseph Zullo said. "The department's call volume is higher than many departments in the area, and more calls for service can create more opportunities for claims."

When asked about the attention East Haven has gotten from federal investigators, Joseph Zullo said, "Why the Department of Justice isn't focusing on other towns -- I don't know. They came to East Haven and we have cooperated and responded, and as a result, we will have one of the best departments in the Northeast."

Attorney David Rosen of New Haven is representing several individuals in a 2010 federal lawsuit which claims East Haven police profiled, violated rights and used excessive force against Latino residents and businesses.

The lawsuit alleges widespread misconduct in the East Haven police department, including officers beating individuals -- hitting one plaintiff's head twice against a concrete wall, and using a Taser and kicking another plaintiff who was already in handcuffs. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of racial profiling against Latinos, and retaliation against anyone who opposed or investigated misconduct.

There is some overlap between allegations in the civil and criminal cases -- Salatto and several individuals in Rosen's lawsuit are referenced in the indictments against East Haven officers.

'Macho culture'

"Some police departments have a more macho culture than others," Rosen said, of why some departments have significantly higher numbers of excessive force complaints. "Part of what makes a department's culture is the attitude at the top toward excessive force allegations -- whether the first instinct of the top brass is to protect the officer or to find out what really happened, and that can make a big difference."

In court documents, attorneys representing the town have denied wrongdoing and assert that only a reasonable amount of force was used to restrain and control individuals.

Some police agencies, like Wallingford's police department, managed to go the full five-year period without any excessive force litigation.

Wallingford Police Chief Douglas Dortenzio said his department has policies in place to discourage it.

Any time a Wallingford officer uses any force, they have to complete an internal form, so it is tracked, according to Dortenzio.

If any officer were to be the subject of multiple complaints, it would be addressed to see if it is an anomaly. If not, then corrective action would ensue, according to Dortenzio.

"I think it is easier to manage smaller agencies," Dortenzio said. "We do training. We have community surveys. We have a high regard for the dignity of people. We remind officers that their role is to protect rights, which sets the tone and culture for the organization. We don't have tolerance for employees who can't do the job correctly. We spend a lot of time and money training individuals."

Wallingford police have cameras in their cruisers, which Dortenzio said has been an excellent tool for evidence and to prevent officers from being the victims of retaliatory complaints. With the interaction on video, there is evidence as to whether a complaint has merit, otherwise it the complainant's word against the officer's.

David McGuire, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said it is difficult to determine why some police departments have more complaints of brutality.

"There certainly can be a culture at some police departments," McGuire said. "Some departments are more open to accepting and investigating claims of police misconduct than other departments. One department may be open to hearing from the public, while others make it nearly impossible."

The organization conducted a telephone survey of police departments, and a report concluded that many routinely impose barriers to accepting complaints from civilians. According to the ACLU of Connecticut, its survey found departments that failed to make complaint forms available, refused to accept anonymous complaints, and imposed time limits on receiving complaints, for example.

"The findings reveal a need for statewide standards to ensure that civilians with complaints about police misconduct will not be turned away, intimidated or silenced," the group said, in a statement.

Digital First Media staff members Michael Bellmore, Luther Turmelle, Viktoria Sundqvist, Bridget Albert and Jennifer Swift contributed to this investigation. Call Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at 203-789-5707.