MILFORD — Police Commissioner Anthony Candido resigned
Thursday from his position on the civilian board, a day after a scathing state
judicial branch investigative report cited him for violating the state’s
workplace sexual harassment policy.
Candido, 70, has been on administrative leave without pay
since December from his chief judicial marshal position in Superior Court in
Waterbury. Candido repeatedly kissed and hugged numerous women while on the
job, according to the report.
Candido will face a three-judge panel, likely next week, to
determine if he will be disciplined further, including the possibility of
losing his job. Candido’s attorney, Hugh Keefe of New Haven, said Thursday that
state police investigators asked for the statement his client made to judicial
branch investigators.
State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance did not return
phone calls Thursday concerning whether state police are conducting a probe
into the sexual harassment complaints made against Candido.
Keefe said the judicial branch’s “fact-finder simply took
down what people told him at face value, and never challenged what they said.”
“The hearing of a panel of judges will be fairer and more
objective than the fact-finder,” Keefe said. “Tony will freely admit he’s a hugger,
and apparently that’s illegal in the state courthouses.”
Mayor Ben Blake said Candido phoned Police Chief Keith Mello
Thursday to inform him that he was resigning, and would send a letter of
resignation soon.
“My concern is for the reputation of the Milford Police
Department and with this resignation there will no longer be a distraction to
the city of Milford,” Blake said.
Candido’s successor must be approved by the Board of
Aldermen. There are seven members of the police commission, which provides
civilian oversight of the police department. Members also act as the
department’s traffic authority and meet once a month. Police commissioners are
not employees of the department and have no law enforcement authority.
Candido, who earns $79,061 annually in his judicial marshal
position, is well-known for his volunteer work with disabled and very ill
residents. Candido was appointed chairman of the mayor’s committee for People
with Disabilities in 2002 by then-Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.
By 2010, the group was renamed the Concerned Citizens for
People with Disabilities and is no longer affiliated with the mayor’s office or
city government. Candido continues to serve as that group’s chairman, and has
been active over the past couple of years.
The judicial branch’s investigative report states that a
woman entered the courthouse on Nov. 23 and Candido brought her back to his
office, where he hugged and kissed her, including on the lips. Candido said it
was the woman who hugged and kissed him, according to the report.
The alleged victim told investigators Candido repeatedly
referenced all of the sick and disabled children he helped, including producing
a CD of archives, and showing pictures, and even reading the alleged victim a
poem he read at a 9-year-old’s funeral.
Keefe said it’s terrible the state is trying to turn
Candido’s civic and charitable contributions against him. “No good deed goes
unpunished,” Keefe said.
In its investigation, the judicial branch said Candido
hugged three women within an hour and kissed one woman on Nov. 23, which
violated the state’s workplace sexual harassment policy.
After allegations publicly surfaced, three other women spoke
to state investigators, informing them Candido hugged and kissed them, the
report states.
His co-workers told investigators Candido had a reputation
for trolling for women in the courthouse, and was known as “Uncle Tony” to many
young women, according to the state’s investigative report.
State officials reviewed Candido’s office habits from Sept.
19 through Dec. 2, and he was seen meeting with 121 women in his office during
that 39-workday period, according to the report.
Candido is seen on video “hugging, holding hands, having his
arms around them, jabbing and prodding and being in their close personal
space,” according to the state’s report, which says Candido had no security
reason to be meeting with the women in his office.