Town officials on Tuesday denied a disability pension to a former New Canaan Police officer dismissed two years ago following his arrest on animal cruelty and other charges. The municipal Pension Committee voted unanimously to deny former K-9 Officer David Rivera’s application during its regular meeting, held Oct. 8 at Town Hall and via videoconference.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson said the denial is based on Rivera “using his New Canaan police badge to illegally purchase explosives, which resulted in his conviction of several felonies, burglary in the third degree, malicious wounding and killing of animals in the first degree, possession of explosives and illegal purchase and receipt of a long gun, along with two misdemeanors.”
She continued: “Mr. Rivera committed acts of dishonesty toward the town while employed by the town, resulting in forfeiture of pension benefits under section 16.5 of the funded retirement plan of the town of New Canaan, providing that a participant who commits any act of fraud or act of dishonesty toward the town while employed by the town may forfeit his pension benefits.”
Carlson and Committee members—town CFO Anne Kelly-Lenz, Police K9 Officer Sebastian Obando, Board of Finance member Bob Hamill and Fire Lt. Michael Jackson—voted in favor of the denial. Rivera pleaded guilty in April to gun and explosives charges. He also was charged with cruelty to animals—and, specifically, multiple counts for violating a law against intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding or killing an animal.
