Loren Casertano, 51, appeared with his attorney, Rob Serafinowicz, in response to the warrant that alleges several drug violations including illegal possession of a controlled substance and not having a prescription drug in its original container. He was fired in May over alleged multiple violations of Shelton police policies. Casertano had been on paid administrative leave since his July 2008 arrest by state police on fifth-degree larceny charges.
The defendant received accelerated rehabilitation, a form of pre-trial probation, on that charge, which stemmed from restitution he received from the theft of his daughter's iPod. The new charges relate to an inspection of Casertano's locker after he was fired, Serafinowicz told the Valley Independent. The officer had been taking pain killers for an injury at the time and some of those pills may have fallen out of the bottle, the lawyer said.
"These charges are nothing more than the last ditch efforts of a desperate man, that being Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman, to try and intimidate Loren so he will not go forward with the hearing before the Board of Labor on the 27th or the current litigation pending in federal court," Serafinowicz said. "Chief Hurliman's actions reek of desperation and make it clear to all that he has something to hide and does not want the public to see."
Casertano has filed a federal lawsuit against Hurliman and the city, claiming that he was fired because he was prepared to expose corruption in the police department.
Hurliman said that Casertano's claims of police corruption were made a month after his arrest and involved a matter that Casertano had been aware of for two years prior to making his claim.
The former cop has a busy week ahead. On Monday a state Freedom of Information Commission hearing officer will hear Casertano's complaint that the police department hasn't provided him certain reports. The state Board of Mediation and Arbitration will also hold a hearing next week on Casertano's grievance over his firing.
Norman Pattis, who represents Casertano in the federal lawsuit, told the Valley Independent that the new criminal charges are in retribution for Casertano not settling the suit.