Opinion ID: 795898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Department's Retaliation and Plaintiffs' Lawsuit

Text: 11 The next day, Acting Chief Ricozzi, with Chief Flynn's authorization, suspended Skehan without pay for making false and improper allegations about other officers to the District Attorney. A copy of the suspension notice was sent to the Board. By letter dated June 9, Flynn urged the Board to continue Skehan's suspension pending the completion of the investigation of Skehan. All five members of the Board voted to continue the suspension. 12 On June 4, Chief Flynn published a memorandum, with copies to the Board, outlining his response to DiCioccio and Monachelli's memorandum. In it, Chief Flynn promised action against DiCioccio and Monachelli. A month later DiCioccio was interviewed by Chief Flynn concerning the May 30 memorandum. When DiCioccio was asked to remove his firearm, he dropped his gunbelt to the floor in a show of disrespect for the investigation. On the advice of counsel, DiCioccio refused to answer any questions related to the PBA memorandum. On July 8, Chief Flynn leveled disciplinary charges against DiCioccio for his refusal to answer questions at the hearing and dropping his gunbelt and then suspended him without pay. The Board unanimously voted to continue DiCioccio's suspension on July 18. Also on July 8, Chief Flynn served Monachelli with a notice to appear. His interview was conducted the following day and was continued to July 30; like DiCioccio, Monachelli refused to answer questions concerning the May 30 PBA memorandum. Skehan's disciplinary proceeding began on July 17. 13 On August 8, Skehan filed this action in the Southern District of New York against Flynn and the Board members, as well as other officers who are not appellants. On September 8, DiCioccio and Monachelli filed a separate action. The same day, Flynn sent a memorandum to the Board explaining that he was instituting disciplinary charges against Monachelli. Monachelli was charged with refusal to answer questions during the investigation, posting of the May 30 PBA memorandum, and discussing the memorandum with third parties. Monachelli was not suspended but was relieved of supervisory responsibilities. Because of a perceived conflict of interest, the Board appointed a retired New York State Supreme Court Justice, James R. Cowhey, to hear the charges against Skehan, DiCioccio, and Monachelli. 14 On February 14, 2004, Paul Micalizzi, a Mamaroneck police officer, wrote to the Board, expressing his belief that the charges against Skehan, DiCioccio, and Monachelli were unjustified and that their complaints against the department were well-founded. Micalizzi further alleged that Chief Flynn had filed the charges to retaliate against and silence the officers. Micalizzi testified on behalf of Skehan, DiCioccio, and Monachelli during their disciplinary hearings in March and April 2004. On April 7, Chief Flynn filed disciplinary charges against Micalizzi and suspended him without pay. The charges alleged that Micalizzi had tape recorded conversations with the mayor of Mamaroneck and police department officials in violation of department policy. Flynn also wrote the Board to recommend that they continue the suspensions of Skehan and DiCioccio and that they suspend Monachelli and Micalizzi until the disciplinary proceedings were completed. At about that time, the Board voted to suspend Micalizzi pending the outcome of the investigation but reinstated him on July 15. There is no record that Monachelli was suspended. On April 19, Micalizzi filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Chief Flynn, the Board, and other officers no longer party to this suit.