Connecticut Board rules City of Waterbury wrong for firing officer

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut’s Board of Mediation and Arbitration recently ruled against the City of Waterbury, stating that they were wrong for firing a police officer in 2023.

The decision stemmed from dashcam and bodycam footage showing then-Officer James Hinkle directing traffic and yelling at a female driver in December 2022.

Despite being terminated in January 2023, the Board found that the city lacked just cause for the termination. However, they expressed concerns about Hinkle’s suitability to continue working as a police officer, especially within the Waterbury Police Department.

“I do agree with [the Board’s] concerns about James Hinkle’s ability to perform as a police officer, but I don’t agree with the decision to reinstate him,” said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo.

While the Board acknowledged the city’s justification for suspending Officer Hinkle for 120 days, Spagnolo emphasized that the department had conducted a thorough internal investigation before making the decision to terminate him.

“I felt that the violations of our policies and the act in itself was egregious enough that it warranted termination,” Spagnolo said.

Hinkle, who had served with the Waterbury police force for seven years, allegedly claimed on the day of the incident that the driver “tried to run [him] over.” Mayor Paul Pernerewski, although not in office during the incident, expressed support for the police department’s decision to terminate Hinkle, citing the importance of maintaining good relations with the community.

The Board said, “Officer Hinkle clearly indicated in his sworn testimony that he did not want to return as an employee of the City of Waterbury.”

News 8 reached out to the city’s police union. Union President John Healey said that they’re happy with the Board’s decision, but the union declined to comment further due to Hinkle’s pending decertification hearing.

Spagnolo and Pernerewski said the city plans to appeal the Board’s decision.

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