In the sweltering afternoon heat, members of several local activist groups in New Haven -- including Black Lives Matter, Unidad Latina en Accion, and People Against Injustice -- organized in front of City Hall and the New Haven Police Department on Tuesday to send a message.
"Community activists have come together for this one cause, which is, as you can tell from the sign -- get Esserman out," said one protester from a bullhorn.
Police Chief Dean Esserman, who’s now out on sick leave, has been criticized for his conduct in public and alleged bullying within the police department.
State Senator Gary Winfield watched as the small group of protesters in front of city hall called for Mayor Toni Harp to let the chief go.
"The mayor has her own decision to make," said Winfield. "As I look at the situation, what’s important to me is whether the community can believe that the chief can operate as a chief of police. And I think there is a question on the table. And I think it’s right for the community, when they feel that, to demand that people in my position or the mayor’s position respond to that."
State Representative Robyn Porter was also on hand. She said she’s heard repeated stories of bullying and has concerns about how that gets translated.
"We talk about this with kids and in school -- and children commit suicide over being bullied," Porter said. "I mean, if you’re an officer and you have a chief that’s bullying you, then how do you handle that kind of energy? What do you do with that? And who does it impact? And the concern is that it impacts the community that they serve and their family."
Esserman was due to start back to work this week after a 15-day paid leave. There’s been no word about when or if he’ll return.
