3rd Police Officer Arrested, Chief Vows Investigation

March 13, 2024

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A Norwalk police officer was arrested by state troopers on Saturday, March 9, following an alleged road rage incident on the Merritt Parkway.

David Vetare, 54, was the third Norwalk police officer to be arrested in less than a month.

That prompted Norwalk Police Chief James P. Walsh to issue a public statement last night acknowledging the string of arrests had created “challenging circumstances” and “understandably raised concerns and shaken the trust that we have worked tirelessly to build within our community.”

Walsh said the department was “committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation into these matters.”

According to a Criminal Information Summary released by the State Police, officer Vetare admitted to involvement in the incident, which resulted in him being charged with Second-Degree Reckless Endangerment, Second-Degree Breach of Peace, Reckless Driving, and Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle with intent to Harass or Intimidate.

The summary says that last Saturday at around noon troopers were dispatched to the area of exit 6 on southbound Route 25 where a complainant reported the incident.

The complainant said that, while traveling northbound on the Merritt Parkway between exit 44 and 49 in Trumbull, her vehicle was struck by an object thrown by the operator of a tan GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle during a road rage incident.

The complainant also reported the Yukon’s operator began following her and attempted to run her off the road.

The complainant provided the Yukon’s license plate registration. Troopers later located the vehicle and Vetare, the summary says.

Vetare was issued a misdemeanor summons for the charges with a $5,000 non-surety bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 20 in state Superior Court in Bridgeport.

Vetare was appointed to the Norwalk Police Department in October 1992.

On February 15, Norwalk Police Sgt. Shannon Sherry was arrested by warrant following a State Police investigation of a 2023 two-vehicle collision on Interstate 84 that resulted in a fatality.

Sherry, who was off-duty and driving his personal car, was charged with Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle, a felony, and Failure to Drive in the Proper Lane.

Walsh placed Sherry on administrative leave and said the department’s Internal Affairs Unit would investigate the incident.

Sherry, a patrol supervisor, was appointed to the department in September 2004.

The following week, on February 23, Norwalk Police Officer Hector Delgado was charged by Bridgeport Police with third-degree stalking and second-degree harassment. Walsh placed him on administrative leave, with his duty firearm seized and his police powers suspended.

It was Delgado’s third arrest since being appointed a Norwalk officer in November 1993.

Chief Walsh’s statement Tuesday night, posted on the department’s Facebook site:

“I write to you today amidst challenging circumstances that have undoubtedly affected our community and the Norwalk Police Department. The recent arrest of three of our officers has understandably raised concerns and shaken the trust that we have worked tirelessly to build within our community.

“First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest reassurance to our community members: your safety and trust remain our top priorities. While recent events may cause uncertainty, I want to emphasize that these actions do not define our department as a whole. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and upholding the highest standards of integrity.

“To our dedicated officers, I understand that recent events may have left many of you feeling disheartened and uncertain. Please know that you have my full support and that of the entire leadership team. The actions of a few individuals do not reflect the values and dedication that you bring to your roles each day. Thank you for your continued dedication, resilience, and commitment to serving and protecting our community.

“As we move forward, I want to assure the community that we are committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation into these matters.”

Walsh did not indicate whether Vetare had been placed on leave.

Comments

3 responses to “3rd Police Officer Arrested, Chief Vows Investigation”

David Muccigrosso

March 13, 2024

What the heck is going ON here? This department needs to be cleaned out.

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Tysen Canevari

March 14, 2024

I don’t think the department needs to be cleaned out. Perhaps, we need to take a harder look at the stress of being a police officer. Maybe they need mandatory psych evaluations on occasion. A proud member of the police community is probably reluctant to step forward sometimes because they see it as weakness so instead they hold it in. I am not saying I condone bad behavior but I am saying there may be underlying factors in play. Everyday, they leave their families to go to work and do not know what is ahead of them. Unfortunately, the press stamps them on the front page when they make a mistake like some type of life long criminal which deserves no mercy. He wasn’t charged with murder! I think the chief jumped the gun with his letter because he tells the rest of the on duty officers don’t let these three bring you down. Shouldn’t judgement be reserved until a verdict is passed down? Doesn’t sound very supportive of him towards his officers. Lets hear all the evidence before we prosecute them and throw away the key. If found guilty then you can pass on judgement which they must accept.

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Thomas Belmont

March 22, 2024

The notion of “defunding the police” movement, though not a situation here, leaves a morale problem nation wide. With questionable, precarious support from the top down how can any police force have 100% confidence in their job. They serve with half a uniform and half a heart. While various corrective actions are warranted for bad behavior don’t forget the human factor. Today we are faced with the onslaught of illegal immigrants, crossing into every state and town, consuming goods and services, and confiscating that which they can wrest from a civil society. In NYC they are seizing apartments and homes via bizzare squatter rights superceding deeds and legal ownership. Confounding it even more, an upside down city order arrested a home owner for attempting to retake their home. In another instance the owner was murdered and thrown in a sack. The police are handcuffed by the order of the day and are limited in excecuting Real common law and order. As this cancer spreads throughout the nation we, CIVIL CITIZENS, are left to fend on our own. The Second Amendment was ratified to alleviate this problem were the security of on-site police protection, Each citizen can rightfully defend their self in the event of being threatened of life and property. Yet, the gun laws in Connecticut for a citizen to obtain a license for a firearm are so convoluted, so expensive, so restrictive, so full of entrapments, so full of legal threats and dissuasions ,so difficult to get in general that applying for permit is a massive task and violates the authenticity of the Second amendment. Therefore,in light of the current dire situation we find ourselves and the difficulties mentioned, I propose we discard current state legislations that compound the excercise of acquiring a gun license, to make it easier to apply, less expensive, by showing proper ID, etc. Without proper protection from barbaric invasion we need to return to our original Right to defend ourselves.

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