An arbitration finding against the City of Shelton from August 2023 included an “additional findings” section where it was claimed that Shelton Police Chief Shawn Sequeira “lied under Oath numerous times,” and “committed perjury and must be held accountable,” according to the arbitration decision.
Arbitration panelist representing labor, Santo Franzo, a former police officer with the Connecticut State Police, wrote his scathing remarks as part of a decision in a long-running dispute between the City of Shelton, Sequeira, and officers who were terminated following photos posted to social media of them – particularly female officers – changing clothes in the parking lot after locker rooms were closed during the COVID pandemic.
City officials and the police chief believed the pictures were an attempt to “discredit the integrity of the police department,” and, following an investigation, terminated several officers, including Officer Caroline Moretti, in August 2020. After the union filed numerous grievances against the terminations, the officers were reinstated to their positions with back pay following a protracted legal battle involving the state labor board, Connecticut Superior Court, and federal court.
Several of the labor board decisions made similar conclusions that the city had not followed proper disciplinary procedure, that the female officers appeared targeted, and that Sequeira had inappropriately inserted himself into the internal affairs investigation. However, in the 2-1 Moretti decision, Franzo issued additional scathing comments that were either not included in reporting or went unnoticed (including by Inside Investigator).
Among Franzo’s criticisms were that Sequeira testified he was previously a detective with the Connecticut State Police and that he taught internal affairs as an adjunct professor, both of which Franzo says were untrue. “The evidence demonstrated there is no such rank as detective in the Connecticut State Police Department,” Fronzo wrote. “The evidence also showed the Chief is not an adjunct professor and did not and does not teach internal affairs.”
Although “detective” is not an official rank within the Connecticut State Police, it is a title given to officers in the major crimes unit, along with insignia on their uniform sleeve, whereas in other police departments, “detective” is a promotional rank. Sequeira is also listed as a lecturer at Housatonic Community College.
Franzo also wrote that Sequeira testified he had reached out to the Canton police department and they informed him it was “standard practice” for the chief to meet with internal affairs investigators regarding a case, claiming that it was “another lie by the Chief.”
“As a retired law enforcement officer, Connecticut State Trooper, I am appalled and disgusted with the Chief’s lies under oath to this Panel,” Fronzo wrote. “He committed perjury and must be held accountable.”
The City appealed the Board’s determination in superior court, claiming, among other things, that Moretti lied in her testimony, that the board exceeded its authority, and that board members Linda Yelmini and Santo Franzo were biased, citing Fronzo’s additional findings as evidence, claiming the findings were based on “personal experiences as opposed to evidence,” and that he engaged in “bald suppositions and irrelevant personnel attacks.”
“The labor arbitrator (Santo Franzo) made ‘additional findings’ containing many scandalous, personal and false attacks on the Shelton Police Department and its Chief,” wrote attorney Mark J. Sommaruga, and the city asked the court to modify the award and strike “those portions of the decision containing scandalous or personal attacks on the Shelton Police Department personnel (including the ‘additional findings’ of the labor arbitrator in their entirety).”
However, a judge upheld the arbitration award and wrote in his decision that because the “additional findings” were authored solely by Fronzo, “they are not findings at all.”
“They merely amount to Arbitrator Franzo’s sole opinion as to some of the evidence presented,” Judge Jason Welch wrote in his April 2024 decision. “Thus, they cannot form the basis for a finding that the award is not supported by substantial evidence.”
The city had also claimed that Arbitrator Yelmini “relied on her personal knowledge as to the ranking structure of the Connecticut State Police,” and that this knowledge was “used to impeach a statement made [by] the Chief as his time working at the State Police.” However, Judge Welsh determined it “does not rise to the level of evident partiality.”
Moretti joined five other officers in a federal lawsuit against Sequeira and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, alleging their First Amendment rights were violated, which eventually culminated in a $2.7 million settlement in 2024; however, Moretti was not included in the settlement.
A second lawsuit filed by four other officers terminated in 2020, resulted in a $4.9 million settlement, leaving city officials “dumbfounded,” according to CT Post.
Sequeira filed a lawsuit against a Shelton police officer whom he had fired in 2020, but won both his job back and part of the federal settlement against Sequeira and Lauretti. Sequeira claimed David Moore was stalking him, and Moore was charged by state police with third degree stalking.
The lawsuit, filed in September 2024, was recently withdrawn by Sequeira. Moore also withdrew his counterclaim.
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