New Haven police chief apologizes for his conduct at Yale-Army game Alders refer incident with Yale usher to police commission for review

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NEW HAVEN >> A Yale University professor claims in a letter, which alders forwarded to the Board of Police Commissioners, that Police Chief Dean Esserman threatened to “shut the whole game down” when an usher at September’s Yale-Army game questioned the reportedly ticketless top cop’s entry to the Yale Bowl.

Esserman on Thursday said he apologized for the incident soon after it occurred. He added that he informed Mayor Toni Harp the day after the game what happened.

“I acted inappropriately and I was wrong,” Esserman said. “I didn’t hide it. I’m not proud of my behavior. I was having a bad day but that’s not a good enough excuse. When you’re wrong, you’re wrong.”

Esserman added that he learned on Wednesday that the matter was going to be brought to the Board of Alders.

Dan Weinberger, a city resident who teaches epidemiology at Yale University, wrote that he witnessed Esserman’s encounter with the usher and claims Esserman demanded the usher’s supervisor remove the worker from the premises.

New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman Photo: Journal Register Co. Photo: Journal Register Co. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New Haven police chief apologizes for his conduct at Yale-Army game 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“When the supervisor hesitated the chief threatened that he would ‘shut the whole game down’ if the man was not removed immediately,” Weinberger wrote. “At this point I stood up and went to talk to the supervisor on the man’s behalf to give my account of the situation. I told the supervisor (while the chief was standing there) that the man had simply been trying to help us find our seats. At this point the chief turned to me and badgered and mocked me and asked if I wanted to make a statement.”

Reached Thursday, Weinberger declined to comment further but confirmed he first sent his letter to university officials because the incident occurred on Yale property.

On Monday, the Board of Alders forwarded Weinberger’s letter to Board of Police Commissioners Chairman Anthony Dawson. The letter to Dawson was signed by Board of Alders President Jorge Perez, D-5, President Pro Tempore Tyisha Walker, D-23, Majority Leader Alphonse Paolillo Jr., D-17, Deputy Majority Leader Jeanette Morrison, D-22, Black and Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Dolores Colon, D-6, and Black and Hispanic Caucus Vice Chairwoman Delphine Clyburn, D-20.

“As the Board of Police Commissioners is the proper entity to review this, we are forwarding this to you for your investigation and appropriate actions,” the board’s letter states.

Harp also was included as a recipient, along with Yale President Peter Salovey and university Police Chief Ronell Higgins.

The city’s code of ordinances specifies, however, that the chief of police “shall be subject to the authority of the mayor” but the Charter gives the Board of Police Commissioners authority to “advise and consult with the Chief of Police concerning matters pertaining to the chief’s duties and to the conduct of the department...”

Laurence Grotheer, spokesman for Harp, said the mayor cannot comment on the incident.

“It’s a personnel matter,” Grotheer said.

Dawson could not be reached for comment.

Weinberger stated that the incident occurred about an hour before kickoff of the Sept. 27 game, an event that drew more than 34,000 fans and also marked the 100th anniversary of the Yale Bowl.

He began his letter by noting his respect for the city’s police force and added he is also a “strong supporter” of the community policing initiatives Esserman has launched since he returned to the Elm City in October 2011.

Weinberger described the usher as an “older gentleman” and wrote that Esserman was accompanied by a younger man as he walked down the stairs toward the field. Weinberger noted that Esserman was dressed in a New Haven police polo shirt.

“The usher asked to see the tickets of the chief and the young man,” Weinberger wrote. “The chief replied sharply that he didn’t need a ticket because he was the chief of police and had an ‘all-access pass,’ including some additional belittling comments towards the usher.”

Weinberger said that, as Esserman walked away, the usher turned to the professor’s wife and commented that the chief was “a jerk (or something to that effect),” prompting Esserman to turn around and “loudly and harshly yell at the man” and demand to see his supervisor.

“The chief made the man sit and continued to verbally abuse him,” Weinberger wrote.

After demanding the supervisor remove the usher and threatening to shut down the game, Weinberger said Esserman followed him to where he and his family were sitting. Weinberger noted that he and Esserman talked about what happened for several minutes and added that Esserman “continued to strongly insist that I didn’t know what I was talking about.

“The supervisor of the usher came to visit us later and thanked me for defending the employee.”

Weinberger wrote that the out-of-town guests seated nearby “were appalled” by Esserman’s behavior “towards a member of the public who was simply trying to do his job.

“This type of behavior by a leader of our city is a complete embarrassment.”

Weinberger acknowledged that it may have been out of line for the usher to have called Esserman “a jerk” but noted the comment was made during a private conversation with his wife.

“Such a comment is certainly not grounds for the chief to have demanded the removal of the man from his job,” Weinberger wrote. “The chief took what should have been a complete non-issue in a non-threatening environment and escalated it for no apparent reason. It is scary to think how he might behave and react in a true crisis situation.”

Weinberger expressed hope that what happened was an “isolated incident.”

The professor also added his motives for writing the letter were to try to ensure the usher did not lose his job and to urge that it “is critical that the city examine the behavior of the chief to ensure that this is not part of a broader problem in police management and conduct.”

According to the agenda for the Board of Alders’ meeting scheduled for Monday, Alder Adam Marchand, D-25, will submit Weinberger’s complaint into the public record.

Call Evan Lips at 203-680-9367.