New Britain Police Malpractice Settlements Suggests Needed Reform

City council agenda items indicate that the City of New Britain has been settling claims against its police force in a rate that suggests reform is needed. On October 11, 2023, the city of New Britain settled a claim by Mr. Ortiz against detective Linda Glimpse for $3,500 alleging she conducted false arrest in March 2021. In a second case, on December 13, 2023, the city of New Britain settled a claim by Wilton Parkes against New Britain Police officers for $12,500 which in December 2020 wrongly arrested Mr. Parkes and accused him of driving a stolen vehicle. In a third case, on January 21, 2021, the city of New Britain settled a claim by Benjamin Morales against nine New Britain Police officers for $22,500 who in February 2019 falsely arrested Mr. Morales, his girlfriend, and two children. Furthermore, Mr. Morales was released while still being handcuffed. In a fourth case, on March 2022, the city of New Britain settled a claim by Mr. Alvarez against two New Britain Police officers who, on November 2018, were called in to intervene in a neighbor dispute. One officer got into an altercation with Mr. Alvarez causing him injuries including striking him in the ribs and the head. Subsequently, Mr. Alvarez needed elbow surgery. The city settled the case for $75,000.

In sum, between 2018 and 2021 the city of New Britain paid $113,500 the settle cases that involved using excessive force, false arrests, and other unprofessional conducts. Recently, as the Progressive previously reported, in September 2022 a city officer killed Katherine Colon while excessively speeding and distractively driving. It is anticipated that this case will end up in court as well. It might be advisable for the city of New Britain to establish more structures such as police accountability commission in order to reduce its use of unnecessary arrests and excessive force. These steps might help increase the city’s police standing in the public eye and save money as well.