Sergeant Terminated By Simsbury Police Commission

SIMSBURY, CT — In contrast to a lengthy meeting last month, during which Police Chief Nicholas Boulter recommended the termination of Sgt. Jason Trombly, the Simsbury Police Commission required just a few moments Wednesday night to decide to fire the 11-year veteran of the police department.

The agenda for the meeting had the discussion and vote on the chief's recommendation scheduled for executive session, but attorney Jeffrey Ment, representing Trombly, insisted the meeting be held publicly. Three members of the commission voted in favor of termination, one was opposed and one abstained.

Trombly, who joined the Simsbury force in 2008 and also serves as a member of the police commission in his hometown of Suffield, had been the subject of a 5-month investigation into claims that he had secretly recorded conversations with superior officers, including Boulter himself. Trombly only admitted to compiling written notes following those conversations, and Boulter demanded the notes be provided to him during his investigation.

Ment claimed his client's due process was violated by Boulter conducting an investigation into a matter in which he was directly involved. He suggested an outside agency should have been brought in to handle the internal investigation.

A grievance is expected to be filed on Trombly's behalf.