Policeman Facing Felony Charge Quits Police Department

By Andrew Gorosko

A Newtown police officer, who is facing a felony charge for allegedly cashing in a stolen gambling chip at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, has resigned from the police department.

In a succinct November 19 letter to Police Chief Michael Kehoe, Police Officer Michael Riccio simply wrote, “Effective November 19, I, Michael Riccio resign from my position as police officer with the Newtown Police Department.”

At a November 25 Police Commission meeting, commission members accepted Mr Riccio’s resignation without comment.

Vice Chairman Carol Mattegat, who served as commission chairman in the absence of James Reilly, said to the commission members, “We have a letter of resignation from Michael Riccio.” The commission members then unanimously accepted the resignation. Attending the session were members Robert Connor, Richard Simon, and Gerald Finnegan.

Mr Riccio, who was a probationary police officer, could not be reached for comment on his resignation.

On November 24, Chief Kehoe said of Mr Riccio’s departure, “There’s not a lot to say.”

“It’s really with mixed emotions that I see his resigning…We had planned for an outstanding career for him…We were upbeat and looking forward to it…The criminal matter came about and we’re kind of sad about that,” Chief Kehoe said.

Apparently, after discussing his legal situation with others, Mr Riccio decided that resigning from the police department was the course to take, Chief Kehoe said.

Mr Riccio began work as a patrolman about one year ago. He faced the prospect of potential dismissal from his job by the Police Commission, in view of his arrest on a felony charge.

On October 31, the state police’s casino unit charged Mr Riccio, 26, who is a Newtown resident, on a warrant issued by Norwich Superior Court, listing one count of conspiracy to commit third degree larceny. According to state police, Mr Riccio cashed in a stolen $5,000 gambling chip at the Mohegan Sun’s Earth Casino on October 20.

State police also charged Soju Johnson, 23, of Willimantic with third degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third degree larceny. State police allege that Mr Johnson, who is a former Mohegan Sun employee, stole the $5,000 gambling chip on October 19. State police recovered the $5,000.

Following his arrest, Mr Riccio’s police powers were suspended. He surrendered his badge and gun and did administrative civilian duty in the police station until his November 19 departure.

Mr Riccio, who has not entered a plea in the criminal case, is scheduled to appear again in Norwich Superior Court on December 3.

Officer Riccio was hired by Newtown police late November 2002. He took his oath of office early last December. Because he was a probationary police officer, he was not protected by the job-security provisions of the Newtown Police Union’s collective bargaining agreement with the town. Consequently, he could have been terminated by the Police Commission for any violation of the police department’s rules and regulations.