Stratford Councilman Will Do Education Program After DUI Charge

STRATFORD, CT — A Stratford councilman’s application to participate in an alcohol education program was recently granted in court, after he was accused in September of driving more than 100 mph while under the influence. If he completes the program, his case will be dismissed, according to his attorney.

Councilman William F. Perillo, a retired police officer, appeared in court Dec. 9. His lawyer, Peter Billings, confirmed Perillo’s program application was granted but declined to comment further.

Perillo was charged after an incident Sept. 12 with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving at a speed greater than 85 mph, disobeying an officer's signal, and failure to drive in the proper lane, Connecticut State Police reported at the time.

A state trooper recorded Perillo's vehicle going 117 mph in a 55-mph zone near Exit 53 on Route 15 in Stratford, according to police, who said Perillo refused to stop for a "considerable distance" before eventually slowing and coming to a halt.

Perillo, 51, of the 500 block of Woodlawn Avenue, was arrested, but complained of difficulty breathing and was brought to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where he failed a field sobriety test and was released on a $2,500 bond to the care of hospital staff, police said.

In addition to representing Stratford's Seventh District on the Town Council, Perillo, a Republican, is a 25-year veteran of the Stratford Police Department. Perillo confirmed at a court appearance in October that he had no previous impaired driving convictions.

The pretrial alcohol education program for which Perillo applied typically includes intervention programming or therapy. Perillo’s court file has been sealed, as is procedure when a defendant applies for the program.