From the Hartford Courant

Trooper Suspended 15 Days

Response To 911 Call Called Inappropriate

By TRACY GORDON FOX
Courant Staff Writer

March 22, 2005

A state trooper was suspended for 15 days without pay Monday
for telling the friend of a seriously injured motorcyclist
"too bad," and hanging up on him when he called 911 for help
last August.

State police said Trooper Robert Peasley's behavior did not
affect the response time to the accident or contribute to the
death of Justin Sawyer, 21, of Bozrah. Sawyer died of head
injuries several days after the crash in Bozrah.

"The investigation revealed inappropriate and unprofessional
language," said Sgt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman.
"The investigation revealed that despite the comments, state
police and emergency service arrived promptly."

But state police Commissioner Leonard C. Boyle said residents
expect more from the state police when they call for help.

"When someone reports a serious incident on a 911 call,
the person receiving that call has an obligation to receive
information, convey information back to that person and do
so in a respectful manner," Boyle said Monday.

Sawyer's family hired a lawyer, complained to state police,
and requested the tape of the incident after learning what
the trooper had said to Sawyer's friend. No lawsuit has been
filed. Sawyer's family could not be reached for comment Monday.

Peasley, who was working the dispatch desk in the Troop E
barracks in Montville, was punished after an internal affairs
investigation for several offenses, including conduct
unbecoming a police officer, inefficient action and lack
of decorum, police said.

The trooper hung up on the caller because he apparently
thought he had received several other calls about the same
incident. But Boyle said the investigation showed that the
call from the friend was the first Troop E received for that
accident. It also showed that Peasley was rude to a second
caller who reported the accident, telling him Sawyer
"shouldn't have been riding that way."

Union officials said they will fight to reduce the punishment,
especially considering that Peasley, an 18-year veteran, has
a good record and had not previously been in trouble.

"It's a tragedy. But the discipline imposed is extremely
harsh and not warranted," union President David LeBlanc
said Monday.

LeBlanc said Peasley and the one civilian dispatcher on
duty on the evening of Aug. 17 were swamped with calls from
another accident and several other incidents.

LeBlanc said the incident illustrates the stress on
dispatchers and troopers who man the desks at the busiest
barracks.

"It's out of control, and the agency has refused to
staff it appropriately," LeBlanc said.

Boyle said the department is looking into ways to better
handle 911 calls.

"In this instance, the investigation established the
trooper had the opportunity and should have taken and
provided more information," Boyle said.