{news} Boyle Going And Won't Look Back

[clifford thornton]

      Boyle Going And Won't Look Back

            CONNECTICUT NEWS 

          Stan Simpson



      January 24, 2007 


      In a startling confirmation of his pending exit as public safety commissioner, Leonard Boyle upstaged the continuing chatter about the inauguration day arrest of political activist and free-lance journalist Ken Krayeske.

      And for that, Connecticut, we can be thankful.

      Politics and public safety - and the firewall that should separate the two - was the theme of Tuesday's legislative public safety committee meeting. Or, as co-chairman Stephen Dargan put it: "Politics should be out of the policing business, whether it's the legislative branch or the executive branch."

      The comment was a prelude to a much-anticipated hearing about Krayeske's arrest by Hartford police. But the remark also applied - unexpectedly so - to Boyle, the highly regarded lawman. A former federal prosecutor, he has helped to put away mobsters, gang bangers and corporate crooks. 

      Sharply questioned by state Rep. Christopher Caruso about the rumors of his departure, Boyle conceded that he will soon resign the position for personal reasons. The state police are embroiled in a major internal affairs scandal, which has resulted in an action report with 60 recommendations for improvement.

      Recently, Gov. M. Jodi Rell appointed former Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Yelmini the state police deputy commissioner of internal affairs. The governor did so without consulting Boyle, who was informed of Rell's personnel decision by lightning rod chief of staff Lisa Moody. 

      Caruso, an excitable sort on a good day, was apoplectic when he learned that the governor neither consulted nor gave her state police commissioner a courtesy call. If Caruso is to be believed, Boyle is quitting because Rell undermined his authority by putting someone with no law enforcement or investigatory experience in charge of internal affairs. Boyle is widely believed to have inherited the internal problems within the state police; he is not considered the cause of it.

      "It's very clear that politics is now rearing its ugly head within a professional law enforcement agency within the state of Connecticut," said Caruso, referring to Yelmini. "You're putting someone who was politically injected into the system to oversee internal affairs, which has to do with the conduct of state troopers. I think they needed a place to put commissioner Yelmini, so they found it here. I think it's also a controlling mechanism by the chief of staff over a professional law enforcement agency. Lisa Moody is running the state police."

      Chris Cooper, the governor's spokesman, called Caruso's contention "ridiculous" and "an unfounded supposition based on a faulty premise."

      To be fair to Yelmini, she is regarded as a standout labor lawyer, one experienced in the procedures for job termination and making them stick. That could be an invaluable asset with this department. Yelmini also has experience in administrative law and organizational expertise.

      Though Boyle was adamant that his decision to move on was made "six months ago," he did nothing to dismiss Caruso's notion that he felt disrespected that a decision to name a deputy commissioner to his staff was made without his input.

      Frankly, Rell has the right to do whatever she wants. She's the boss. But Boyle doesn't need the aggravation and deserved better treatment. He could go to a law firm tomorrow as a partner and command a ton of money. A job in Washington, D.C., with the feds is more likely.

      Lenny Boyle won't have a problem finding work.

      Stan Simpson's column appears on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He can be heard live Saturday on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 from 5:30 to 10 a.m. 


      E-mail: ssimpson at courant.com<mailto:ssimpson at courant.com>  


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