WEST HAVEN Protests related to the death of 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane has cost the city more than $109,000 in police overtime, according to the city corporation counsel.

Protests and related events in West Haven incurred $107,117 to date, and on June 8, when city police provided standby support to the Milford Police Department, the overtime amounted to $2,243.72.

The Register requested the numbers through the Freedom of Information Act.

Soulemane was fatally shot by Connecticut State Police Trooper Brian North on Jan. 15 following a high-speed chase on Interstate 95 from Norwalk that ended off Exit 43 at Campbell Avenue. West Haven police were there as backup, and Soulemanes family and their attorney claim city police didnt do enough to deescalate the situation.

Mubarak is said to have suffered from schizophrenia.

There have been at least three protests in West Haven, as well as a vigil and birthday celebration for Soulemane, who would have turned 20 on June 24.

The case is under investigation by the states attorneys office in Rocky Hill.

Mark Arons, a civil rights attorney representing the Soulemane family, said police overtime for such events is literally the price thats paid for free speech, protection and defense of liberty and civil rights.

Many residents have expressed concern on social media that the city is incurring the costs of police overtime when taxes are high in West Haven.

These folks should applaud and salute the protectors who are doing their civic duty, Arons said. Instead, those who are upset should be more concerned about the fact that this (death) occurred in their town, with their police directly involved.

Corporation Counsel Tiernan, who did not complain about the costs, said the city so far can cover the costs without disturbing its budget. The citys finances generally are under strain, and are overseen by the states Municipal Accountability Review Board.

Although Soulemane lived in New Haven with his family, West Haven has become a focus of protest because it is where he was killed and the family believes West Haven police played a role in the death by failing to deescalate the situation.

Tiernan said overtime work done prior to the new fiscal year budget in July would be taken from last years budget that ended June 30.

The work this fiscal year would be billed to an extra duty account that has an annual budget allotment of $190,000, Tiernan said.

Tiernan said that because the citys annual fireworks were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, there were no extra duty costs incurred for that. Tiernan didnt have those numbers but past figures reported by the Register put those overtime costs for the fireworks at about $40,000.

We are not New York City, we dont have a budget for police to work to protect protesters and the public daily or even weekly, Tiernan said. Assuming the protests are over it should not be a problem.

Mariyann Soulemane, Mubarak Soulemanes sister and one of the leaders of the group Justice for Mubarak, has indicated there will be more protesting.

Arons said residents should be angry about the total lack of any response by the City of West Haven. The total lack of any investigation by the City. The total lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the City.

Their tax dollars are funding the mayor, the city counsel and the police chief, who are sitting on their hands. Be upset about that, Arons said.

Mayor Nancy Rossi and other officials did speak in support of the Black Lives Matter rally on June 6 on the West Haven Green. Police Chief Joseph Perno, in a Facebook post the day after a July 5 protest, wrote that the Police Departments primary function during events such as this is the safety of the demonstrators as well as the general public.

Police Commission Chairman Raymond Collins III has said police are investigating the case of a car driving through the crowd at the July 5 rally.

Soulemanes family has said he suffered from schizophrenia and they believe he was having a mental break the day he was shot. The incident began in Norwalk where Mubarak reportedly showed a knife when he couldnt get a phone at an AT&T store, then carjacked a rideshare driver. State police began a pursuit after reports that he was speeding on the highway.

Once he got off the exit in West Haven, Soulemane was surrounded by police officers. .

Despite orders by North to get out of the car, Soulemane did not. Police deployed a stun gun but it apparently was ineffective, part of the investigation.

Arons said police should have used tear gas or mace to get Soulemane out of the car, as he was probably frozen with fear. North fired seven shots after a West Haven officer said, hes reaching, referring to Soulemane reaching into his waistband, according to internal police reports obtained by Arons, the attorney has said.

Police knew Soulemane had a knife, but no gun was found. Arons said Soulemane may have been reaching to undo his seatbelt.

The rest is here:

Police overtime related to West Haven protests tops $109000 - CT Insider