Politics & Government

Letter: Linda Santarella Off Police Commission

To the editor:

I am writing this letter because some people in Darien don’t want this information to be known. However, I think the public has a right to know.

A few weeks ago, our First Selectman, Jayme Stevenson, summoned me to her office and told me that she was not reappointing me as a Police Commissioner. I have served as a Police Commissioner for 3 years and 9 months. The First Selectman has the override vote on any candidate who comes before the Board of Selectman to interview. The problem was I was not allowed by Mrs. Stevenson to even interview for the position before the Board which is the normal precedent and process, as noted in the Code of Ordinances, Town of Darien, under Article V. Code of Ethics, Sec. 2-304. Gifts and favors., (c):

“No office-holder or employee shall, in the discharge of his duties, grant any preferential treatment to any person or interest beyond that which is properly available to all other persons or interests.”

In the past, all candidates for the Police Commission have been allowed to interview. Mr. Truebner, a longtime commissioner who I replaced, interviewed for the position - but was not chosen. My replacement on the Police Commission was also allowed to interview for the position. I was not given that same opportunity.

Mrs. Stevenson decided that process and rules do not apply to her. She did not conduct interviews with the full Board in public. She simply selected her own candidate and brought it to the Board as a done deal and asked for a vote. This is not the way that a democratically-elected government who has pledged to be “transparent” to the people of Darien should operate.

Further, in my meeting with Mrs. Stevenson, she told me that I did not have the “skill set” to be a Police Commissioner, even though I successfully held that position for over 3 years. I do not know what skill set she is referring to as there is no skill set or even job description for police commission appointees. Plainly speaking, a police commissioner is a political appointee. He or she is a person who knows the town well and has almost always served in some previous government position. I have served the town for over 30 years as an RTM member and Selectman before being appointed as a commissioner. Perhaps because Mrs. Stevenson has never served in town government before becoming a selectman, it is clear she does not value previous government experience. It reminds me of that old quote of someone being born on 3rd base and thinking they hit a triple.

I found Mrs. Stevenson’s final words to me to be quite threatening when she said, “Don’t you dare make this a political issue.” I guess I dare because it is a political issue. How could it be anything but a political issue - with no interview, no process, and no prior government experience?

Finally, I want to thank the fine men and women of our Darien Police Department. They are an exceptional group of professionals who I have been very proud to be associated with as a commissioner. We are so lucky to have their continued service to the Town of Darien. To them I want to say, it has been a privilege and honor to work with you all. Thank you. I wish the best of luck to the new commissioner and know that it will be a wonderful experience for anyone to work with our Darien Police Department.

Linda Saverine Santarella

(Editors note: First Selectman Jayme Stevenson was asked if she wanted to reply to this letter. She declined.)


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here