WFSB Channel 3East Haven mayor refuses to fire police chief

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo issued a statement  saying he will not fire  East Haven Police Chief Leonard Gallo who is set to retire Friday.

Maturo said it's in the best interest of the town that he not terminate Gallo , despite the police commission's recommendation that he fire the chief, instead of allowing him to retire.

Gallo announced his plans to retire earlier this week after four officers were arrested amid allegations of racial profiling from within the department.

Maturo said  the statutory requirements to terminate Gallo, along with the legal costs of the likely litigation weigh heavily in favor of accepting the Gallo's retirement.

Maturo called his decision  "both legally prudent and financially sound and represents a swift resolution that will allow the Town to focus on healing and moving forward."

Gallo also could face charges. His attorney, Jonathan Einhorn, said he is named in the officers' indictment as co-conspirator No. 1. His attorney does not think Gallo's failure to supervise rises to any sort of criminal level.

"This is a chief who is loyal to the town, he loves the town and from the paperwork I've seen from fed government, no one is accusing him of racial profiling. No one is accusing him of taking action anyone, even after reading he is a co-conspirator. It has more to do with failure of supervision," Einhorn said.

Deputy Chief John Mannion will step up as the interim chief while the mayor searches for a new chief.

Mannion is a former state police officer. He's worked on some major cases including the unsolved murder of Yale student Suzanne Jovin. Mannion said he will try to restore the integrity of the department.

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