By Brian McCready
and James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — The Rev. L. Kenneth Fellenbaum resigned Monday from the Board of Police Commissioners and apologized to anyone offended by his "un-characteristic behavior" at a restaurant a month ago.
According to police officers’ written statements and a videotape, Fellenbaum was intoxicated, vomited on an officer and was kissing and embracing a young woman in public view.
Fellenbaum’s condition prompted a police officer to drive him home from the Stonebridge Restaurant in his squad car to prevent Fellenbaum from trying to drive himself home.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. last week confirmed that he privately urged Fellenbaum, a longtime Republican ally and the board’s chairman, to resign after he became aware of allegations about Fellenbaum’s behavior at the Stonebridge. Fellenbaum initially refused to quit.
Police Chief Keith Mello has said Fellenbaum did nothing criminal. Last week, Fellenbaum vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and said it was clam sauce that made him sick.
Fellenbaum’s 16-year tenure on the police board officially ended at 4 p.m. Monday when he entered the mayor’s office at City Hall and submitted his resignation letter.
The four-paragraph letter said Fellenbaum decided to resign after speaking with Mello over the weekend. Fellenbaum said Mello "reaffirmed that I neither broke nor attempted to break any laws," and that Fellenbaum did not receive any preferential treatment.
"However, I believe that due to the recent media attention given to my actions that evening, the situation has caused an unfortunate distraction to the police commission, the Police Department and the City of Milford," Fellenbaum wrote.
"As I have informed the Chief, I apologize to him, the Department, my family and to anyone that I may have offended by my uncharacteristic behavior that evening."
Fellenbaum declined to comment beyond his resignation letter.
Mello praised Fellenbaum for his years of service, but declined to comment on his decision.
"For the past 16 years, Ken Fellenbaum has been a dedicated member (of the police board)," Mello said. "I appreciate his service and support for the Police Department.
"Although Ken is not a police officer, he has a unique understanding and appreciation of the role of police service. He took a lot of effort to understand the ambiguities and challenges the officers are faced with," Mello said.
Richetelli said the events of the past week continue to "sadden me."
"I think, in the end, Ken Fellenbaum made the right decision resigning. The right decision for himself, his family, the Police Department and city of Milford," Richetelli said.
"From the very beginning, I explained to Ken I was concerned for Ken and his family, and ultimately as mayor, I’m concerned about the reputation of the Police Department," Richetelli said. "The negative light being shed on the Police Department and the city was not in its best interest."
The mayor said the public should remember Fellenbaum for all of his years of service.
Besides the officers’ statements, video from Stonebridge’s security cameras shows Fellenbaum and his female companion disappear from the frame as they approached the entrance to an employees’ restroom inside the kitchen. Twelve minutes pass before the pair emerges.
Fellenbaum and his companion, who has not been identified, later drew attention as they embraced outside the Daniel Street restaurant. Employees and patrons are seen taking pictures and using their cell phones to videotape the two embracing and, later, Fellenbaum throwing up, according to the surveillance tape and police officers’ accounts.
Fellenbaum, who is married, served for 21 years as pastor of Grace Baptist Church. He has been the executive director of Boys & Girls Village, a local nonprofit agency that deals with emotionally and physically abused children, for nine years.
Fellenbaum concluded his resignation letter by stating that he has enjoyed serving the citizens of Milford as a police commissioner and is "very grateful" to support the efforts of the men and women of the Police Department, which he refers to as the "finest in the State of Connecticut."
"I hope in some small way that I have contributed to that goal," Fellenbaum wrote.
Concerning Fellenbaum’s successor, Richetelli said he has not given it "a minute’s thought."
Richetelli will make a recommendation on Fellenbaum’s successor on the police board, but it requires Board of Aldermen approval. A new chairman will be selected by a majority vote of the police board at its next meeting, Mello said. The chief will have no role in the selection process.
Brian McCready can be reached at bmccready@nhregister.com or 401-3501. James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.