Dispatcher apologizes, plans to take seat on school board

Greg Beck, election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Greg Beck, election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Photo: Lisa Weir Photo: Lisa Weir Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Dispatcher apologizes, plans to take seat on school board 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

BROOKFIELD -- A day after the Republican Town Committee asked for his resignation, a newly elected Board of Education member apologized Wednesday for what many in town considered an offensive Facebook post.

Gregory Beck, 26, posted a comment Tuesday on a Sandy Hook anniversary tribute referred to as "26 Days of Kindness." His acts of kindness, he wrote, would be to distribute "ammunition" to his gun enthusiast friends each of those 26 days.

In a statement, Beck, who is a dispatcher for the town's emergency services department, said his retort was not intended to be malicious, but he now recognizes that it was "insensitive and completely indefensible."

Despite the controversy his comment has caused, Beck said he intends to take the oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. in the Municipal Center lobby.

"It is said that hindsight is 20/20, and looking back I should never have even conceived of making the comment," Beck said Wednesday afternoon. "For this reason, I unequivocally apologize to the citizens of Brookfield, Newtown and all others who I have offended or hurt. I am sorry for my mistake and ask for your forgiveness, which I hope to earn over time. I know that learning from mistakes make us better people, and I have already learned much from this one. I will try to be much more conscious of my future actions and comments that I will not unintentionally hurt people as I have done. I am truly sorry."

Beck was adamant he never intended to "downplay the Sandy Hook tragedy" in his remarks.

Outgoing Democratic Board Chairman Ray DiStephan was angered and" by Beck's comments, and suggested that such poor judgment brings into question his ability to serve as a school district leader.

Republican Party leaders who condemned the comments said they had nothing more to say beyond the rebuke already delivered.

Beck ran on the A Brookfield Party line and was endorsed by the Republicans.

Beck, too, has had his share of supporters, including A Brookfield Party Chairman Robert Gianazza, who suggested the comment reflects a frustration among some about how the Newtown tragedy has become a call to restrict the rights of legitimate gun owners.

Since Beck is a town employee, First Selectman Bill Davidson and Police Chief Robin Montgomery issued a joint statement about Beck's conduct.

"Clearly, Mr. Beck made an extremely insensitive comment that is totally inappropriate. While he made the comment while at work for the town of Brookfield as a dispatcher (he works the midnight shift in the emergency services dispatch center at the Police Department), he used his personal cellphone and the minute it took to make the post in no way detracted from his duties. Town officials will speak to Mr. Beck about appropriate conduct while at work. There is no basis for disciplinary action."

On Wednesday, another friend, Mike Torre, reiterated in an email message that Beck has over the last year shown great compassion for the victims of the tragedy, even participating in fundraising efforts in honor of those victims.

"If Greg was not in his current role, I highly doubt this would even be news as there are a lot of people posting far worse things on (Facebook) than offering to buy ammunition for gun enthusiasts," Torre said.

Whether Beck's actions will lead to an ethics violation remains to be seen. The Board of Ethics did have a meeting with its attorney on Wednesday morning in Town Hall. A call to the attorney, David Atkins in Bridgeport, was not immediately returned.

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