Danbury Police Officer Fired For Allegedly Using Excessive Force
DANBURY, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has fired a police officer accused of injuring a suspect.
Daniel Sellner, a 19-year veteran, was fired after allegedly using excessive force against a man he had in handcuffs, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.
Boughton said Sellner had a long history of using excessive force while a member of the Police Department.
Danbury Police Officer Fired For Allegedly Using Excessive Force
"We take these kinds of complaints seriously," Boughton told Schneidau. "And when we get a complaint, whether it's coming from the public or from one of our other officers, we will investigate it and take the appropriate action up to and including termination of employment."
Sellner and his partner, who also is being investigated for the Aug. 9 incident, arrested an unidentified man on multiple charges that were eventually reduced to trespass.
A video of the arrest shows the man in handcuffs offered no resistance, and yet, the mayor said, was subjected to unnecessary force.
Sellner's lawyer, Norman Pattis, characterized the arrest as "garden variety." He said an appeal could be submitted soon to the state Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
Sellner is the second officer in as many years to be fired by Boughton for violating the Police Department's professional standards.
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