Oxford Officer Arrested
By TRACY GORDON FOX
Courant Staff Writer
December 7 2005
An Oxford police officer was arrested Tuesday night in connection with an incident last month involving a former girlfriend that the state police investigated only after a Superior Court judge extended a third restraining order against him.
James Burr, 44, a corporal in the town police department, was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, a Class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct in connection with a Nov. 18 incident involving Diane Gaudett. Burr was being held with bail set at $25,000 pending a court appearance today in Superior Court in Waterbury, state police said.
State police last week commenced a criminal investigation after a Superior Court judge in Danbury extended a restraining order against Burr for six months following testimony by Gaudett that he had threatened her, called her 94 times in one weekend and that she was afraid of him. During one of those incidents, Burr had refused to let her leave his Prospect home, police said.
The restraining order ensured that he could not carry a gun or have police powers during its duration. He was subsequently suspended with pay by Oxford First Selectman August Palmer III who is also the town police chief under the town's charter.
Prior to Gaudett's restraining order, Burr had had two other restraining orders filed against him by another woman, his ex-wife, and had his guns taken away twice. The two resident state troopers who supervise Burr also expressed fear of Burr and asked for an internal affairs investigation.
Troopers Pat Carozza and John Butkevicius were so concerned about Burr's behavior, they had a private attorney write a letter to Public Safety Commissioner Leonard C. Boyle imploring him to ask Palmer to take action against Burr.
Palmer has since asked the state police to conduct an internal affairs investigation into Burr, a 19-year veteran of the Oxford Police Department. Burr is supervised by state police, but can be fired or disciplined by only Palmer.
Boyle has declined to comment about the case, except to saythat state police conferred with Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly after Burr's restraining order was extended.
"Our resident troopers have had some concerns regarding this individual for quite some time," State Police Union President David LeBlanc said. "Obviously, I'm pleased their concerns have been taken seriously, but I'm still a little concerned as to why it took so long to investigate."
LeBlanc said the union would be filing a grievance on behalf of the two troopers for issues of safety and work conditions.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-burrarrest1207.artdec07,0,1112024.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
Why, Why was this guy allowed to continue being an LEO for so long?
By TRACY GORDON FOX
Courant Staff Writer
December 7 2005
An Oxford police officer was arrested Tuesday night in connection with an incident last month involving a former girlfriend that the state police investigated only after a Superior Court judge extended a third restraining order against him.
James Burr, 44, a corporal in the town police department, was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, a Class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct in connection with a Nov. 18 incident involving Diane Gaudett. Burr was being held with bail set at $25,000 pending a court appearance today in Superior Court in Waterbury, state police said.
State police last week commenced a criminal investigation after a Superior Court judge in Danbury extended a restraining order against Burr for six months following testimony by Gaudett that he had threatened her, called her 94 times in one weekend and that she was afraid of him. During one of those incidents, Burr had refused to let her leave his Prospect home, police said.
The restraining order ensured that he could not carry a gun or have police powers during its duration. He was subsequently suspended with pay by Oxford First Selectman August Palmer III who is also the town police chief under the town's charter.
Prior to Gaudett's restraining order, Burr had had two other restraining orders filed against him by another woman, his ex-wife, and had his guns taken away twice. The two resident state troopers who supervise Burr also expressed fear of Burr and asked for an internal affairs investigation.
Troopers Pat Carozza and John Butkevicius were so concerned about Burr's behavior, they had a private attorney write a letter to Public Safety Commissioner Leonard C. Boyle imploring him to ask Palmer to take action against Burr.
Palmer has since asked the state police to conduct an internal affairs investigation into Burr, a 19-year veteran of the Oxford Police Department. Burr is supervised by state police, but can be fired or disciplined by only Palmer.
Boyle has declined to comment about the case, except to saythat state police conferred with Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly after Burr's restraining order was extended.
"Our resident troopers have had some concerns regarding this individual for quite some time," State Police Union President David LeBlanc said. "Obviously, I'm pleased their concerns have been taken seriously, but I'm still a little concerned as to why it took so long to investigate."
LeBlanc said the union would be filing a grievance on behalf of the two troopers for issues of safety and work conditions.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-burrarrest1207.artdec07,0,1112024.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
Why, Why was this guy allowed to continue being an LEO for so long?
