MERIDEN, Connecticut — Meriden’s City Manager Timothy Coon has temporarily been removed from his position after his second run-in with police this year. For now, Police Chief Robert Rosado will take his place as Acting City Manager.
In light of the recent incident, city council members have called for a special meeting Monday night to discuss Coon’s future at city hall.
“People are calling for the city manager to be fired, as he should have been before. But he definitely should be now,” said Joseph Vollano, the host of ‘Straight Talk with Joe Vollano’, a podcast that airs weekly.
Vollano got his hands on the police report Thursday involving Coon from November 1 after getting a tip from someone “on the inside.” Hours later, he went into detail about what the report said on his podcast.
“First thing I noticed was one, they left out a lot of information on the state of the condition that he was in, other than he was sleeping. Was he intoxicated, why wasn’t that in the report,” Vollano questioned.
The police report states that on Nov. 1 around 1:40 a.m., police got a call from a multi-family home on Pleasant Street for a welfare check. The anonymous caller told police Coon was laying on the floor in the common hallway of the building, kicking.
The report went on to say, “The party was located in the common hallway of the building. He was laying on the floor, asleep. He was woken up. He could not find his keys. He stated that the keys were in his center console. Officers were able to locate his car keys and cell phone on the roof of the vehicle, yet the apartment keys were nowhere to be found. 10-43 was evaluated by medical personnel, he knew his own name, the year, his birthday, the president and other generalized questions based on his state of mind. Another resident provided Officers with a master key and entry was able to be made into the apartment. 10-43 refused medical care and was allowed back into his apartment. Nothing further.”
“My parents always told me, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It’s either he goes Monday, or city council goes on Tuesday,” Vollano said.
This incident comes after Coon was arrested for driving under the influence in April. That’s when state police say Coon drove the wrong way on Route 3 in Wethersfield and eventually crashed his car on Route 2.
City council members agreed to keep Coon on staff if he took personal leave, completed an employee assistance program, and got treatment if recommended. The council ruled he wouldn’t drive a city car for three years.
“Going forward it’s like, what standards are you setting,” said one Meriden resident, who didn’t want to reveal their name.
She said a person in his role should be held to a higher standard.
“We need more leadership instead of destruction and I feel like, if you’re a destruction to your own being, you have a lot to work on,” the woman said.
City council leaders sent a joint statement saying, “City leadership and the City Council are aware of a police incident involving the City Manager and are currently gathering pertinent information for its Special Meeting, which has been scheduled for Monday, November 6, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., virtually and in-person in Council Chambers. Until the Council meets on Monday, Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado will serve as Acting City Manager."
Meriden’s Mayor, Kevin Scarpati, also sent a statement saying, “After learning of an incident involving the City Manager, I met with City Council leadership and other key staff members to investigate and gather information. We will be holding a special City Council meeting on Monday, November 6, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to determine next steps.”
The city council special meeting will take place on Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers and virtually. Council members will go into executive session to discuss personnel matters.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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