Seeking 'resolution' on Simms, Norwalk Police attend council meeting in force

Norwalk Police sergeant and Union President David Orr Norwalk Police sergeant and Union President David Orr Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Seeking 'resolution' on Simms, Norwalk Police attend council meeting in force 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NORWALK — Norwalk police came to City Hall in force Tuesday evening to display their displeasure with a city councilman who was charged with assault on Sunday.

About 20 Norwalk policemen in uniform remained silent during the Common Council meeting but spoke afterward about why they had come to City Hall.

Sgt. David Orr, Norwalk Police Union president, said police felt “insulted” by Councilman Travis L. Simms’ behavior early Sunday morning and were asking for resolution of the matter.

“We are here in numbers in a show of solidarity for our fellow officers in the city of Norwalk, and in support of our profession at large, in response to the incident that happened on early Sunday morning,” Orr said. “We anxiously await Councilman Simms’ acknowledgement of his behavior and welcome a resolution, or at least a conversation, as to how that can be resolved.”

Simms, a District B Democrat and 44-year-old former boxing champion, was charged with third-degree assault after a birthday party on Flax Hill Road early Sunday.

On Tuesday, Norwalk police released police body camera videos showing Simms receiving a summons for his alleged involvement in a fight at the party (see related story). The union maintains that Simms acted abusively toward officers at the scene.

“We just want to be able to do our jobs without being subject to verbal abuse and threatening by the citizenry that we serve, especially by elected officials of the municipality that we serve with,” Orr said.

Asked if police would like Simms to resign or apologize, Orr answered, “I would welcome a conversation with (Simms), or with council leadership, as to how this can be resolved, and I’m available for that.”

Simms arrived as the council meeting was beginning and afterward declined to comment.

Mayor Harry W. Rilling, Norwalk’s former police chief and past president of the police union, afterward restated his position on the matter.

“I’ve been in discussions with the (police) chief and with Sgt. Orr, the union president,” Rilling said. “We’re going to wait to review all the information before we have any response.”

Council President Bruce I. Kimmel offered similar comments after the meeting.

“When everything is clear (about) what happened, we will consider (the facts) and act appropriately,” Kimmel said. “But to do anything at this point would be premature.”

District B Councilwoman Phaedrel “Faye” L. Bowman, while leaving City Hall on Tuesday evening, said she “welcomes discussion of a resolution.

Stephan E. Seeger, the Stamford attorney representing Simms, said “the machinery of justice” should be allowed to take its course. He blasted Orr for commenting publicly on the matter.

“The very presumption of innocence upon which our judicial system rests for criminal defendants is played lip service by a guy that heads up the police,” Seeger said.

The attorney noted that Sunday was not Simms’ first encounter with Norwalk police.

“There’s a history between the Norwalk police and Travis Simms,” Seeger said. “If there is any connection between Mr. Simms’ history with the Norwalk Police Department and his acquittal last time and that history has precipitated (Sunday’s) arrest in any way whatsoever, we will seek immediate civil rights remedies in federal court.”