Below is a statement issued on behalf of my client Mustafa Salahuddin:

At this time I have not been cleared by my doctor to return to work in the capacity of an
Ansonia Police Officer. He has also advised against my participating in a termination
hearing at this time as he feels the stress of such a proceeding will have negative effects
on my health. For many years I enjoyed a great passion for law enforcement and helping
those in need. I took great pride in both being a part of our system and my role in it. A
police officer’s job is not simply to arrest those who break the law. The job consists of so
much more including providing guidance to young people, through programs such as
Dare, and giving aid to those who have been injured or are in trouble.
The actions of Chief Kevin Hale in falsely accusing me of a crime and in manipulating
our system of justice for his own malicious personal reasons has caused me to lose the
passion I once had for the job. I was forced to endure a situation where I was accused of
a crime I did not commit, and where the facts of the case show no crime was committed.
I had to endure almost two years of uncertainty related to both my own and my family’s
future. A jury quickly saw through what Chief hale was trying to accomplish and
returned a verdict in my favor. At the trial a great deal of evidence was presented
including evidence that Chief Hale had acted in a similar manner to other officers
including Tom Swan and Jon Martin. Another officer had submitted a fraudulent time
card, an offense for which a Hartford Police officer was recently fired, and Chief Hale
did nothing more than issue this officer a warning. Chief Hale’s personal hatred of me
was at no time clearer then when he took the stand to give testimony. He stated that the
surveillance tape showed me taking my jacket and using two hands to cover the hose and
that I then walked out of the building. This was after the jury had viewed the tape and
after Lt. Coda testified on cross examination that the tape did not show me holding the
hose at any time nor did it show me leaving the building with it. Anyone who ever saw
this tape knows that it shows nothing even close to Chief Hale’s description. At this
point why not release the tape to the members of the media so the public may view it and
they can properly evaluate Chief Hale’s statements.
In addition, the actions of Commissioner Amico in labeling me a thief along with
the hostility that exists as a result of my being vindicated in this matter has created a
situation where it is clear the Ansonia Police Department does not want me in its ranks.
This situation will only serve to have further negative implications on my health as rather
than being able to concentrate on my duties I will constantly have to look over my
shoulder in fear of whatever is next on Chief Hale’s agenda.
As a result I feel I am left with no other option than to retire from the Ansonia
Police Department. I have lost all passion for the job and at this point in my life I no
longer have the desire to be a police officer, in Ansonia, or any other city. I would like to
thank the many wonderful people of this community I have met over the course of my
career and those who supported me and stood by me throughout this entire ordeal.
Specifically, I would like to thank the many business owners within the community as
well as the members of the Ansonia Board of Education. I would also like to thank those
who stood by me and offered aid throughout this ordeal, specifically Tom Swan, who
testified at the trial, as well as Patty Rawley who testified that I had a “bullseye” on my
back. I would also like to thank the dedicated members of the Connecticut State Police,
who conducted a fair and impartial internal affairs investigation of this matter.

Rob Serafinowicz, Esquire