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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

[CT] Firefighter Kennedy attacks wife's lawyer & ZERO tolerance means maybe

...[NEW HAVEN FIREFIGHTER MATT] KENNEDY AND HIS WIFE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF A DIVORCE, AND LAST YEAR HE WAS ISSUED A SHORT SUSPENSION AFTER BEING ARRESTED WHILE OFF DUTY IN HAMDEN IN CONNECTION WITH A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE. HE ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN A FIREHOUSE RUN-IN LAST AUGUST WITH A CO-WORKER AND ALLEGEDLY CHOKED HIM... [FIRE CHIEF MICHAEL] GRANT’S BOSS, CITY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER ROB SMUTS, SAID HE WILL REVIEW THE WRITTEN REPORTS AND CONFER WITH GRANT. THE CITY’S “ZERO TOLERANCE” POLICY STATES THAT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE “MAY” RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY, HE SAID. IT DOESN’T MANDATE IT...

Angry Connecticut Firefighter Tossed in Jail
Allegedly jumped from ambulance to attack wife's lawyer

New Haven Register
WILLIAM KAEMPFFER
03-23-2008
It wasn't the fight itself that created a spectacle... It was the fact that the aggressor was an on-duty city firefighter, who allegedly jumped out of his fire department ambulance and attacked his wife's divorce lawyer when he saw the two together downtown. While he wasn't immediately arrested, Firefighter Matt Kennedy ultimately spent the night in jail, authorities said... [Fire Chief Michael] Grant said he still didn't have all the details, but he provided this account as he said he understood it: Kennedy was working on an emergency unit and was returning from a medical call when he saw his estranged wife and a man together. He left the vehicle and confronted the woman and man. By the time the battalion chief arrived, police had them separated and the battalion chief and Kennedy's partner convinced him to get back in the rig and to the firehouse. There, when Kennedy remained visibly upset, a paramedic recommended he get checked out at the hospital. He was arrested by police at the hospital for violating a protective or restraining order his wife had against him, Grant said. "It was confrontational. I'm sure a million people saw it," he said. "It's disappointing to me and embarrassing to the department"... after a crowd of spectators had gathered and as police spoke to Wallace, Kennedy allegedly broke free from police and firefighters who were restraining him and went after Wallace again, threatening him. Some questions were raised when Kennedy was pushed back into his rig and driven off, instead of being arrested at the scene, although charges ultimately were filed... Kennedy and his wife are in the process of a divorce, and last year he was issued a short suspension after being arrested while off duty in Hamden in connection with a domestic disturbance. He also was involved in a firehouse run-in last August with a co-worker and allegedly choked him. Neither pursued the matter and Kennedy was not disciplined... [Full article here]

FROM 2007 (SAME CHIEF):

Firefighters Fight … Each Other

New Haven Register
by Paul Bass
September 11, 2007
Fire Chief Michael Grant (pictured) said Tuesday he has decided not to discipline two firefighters involved in a fight on the job involving “strangling” and unproved accusations of drunk driving. The incident may test the city’s “zero tolerance” policy on workplace violence. City Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts said he plans to review the incident in that light... Chief Michael Grant said he learned of the incident over the weekend, then questioned his battalion chiefs and deputy chief about it... He said he believes that language in the reports like “strangling” and “assault” overstated the incident. “It was more pushing and shoving.” No one was hurt, he said. The two firefighters involved are actually friends, Grant said; they and their families had been together the prior week in Baltimore for a firefighters’ convention. “These guys are together all the time,” Grant said. “Sometimes a lapse of judgment comes into play. Not often. Tempers flare… There are personal issues that can weigh on people’s minds.” He compared the incident to “two brothers getting into a fight. They next day they’re the best of friends.” According to Chief Grant, public safety was not compromised during this period. No calls came in; two other firefighters were on duty in the station. In his written report, Capt. Rosado appeared to urge his bosses to take some action. “I would like to remind administrative and managerial staff that the City of New Haven’s policy on workplace violence states ‘zero tolerance for acts of physical violence in the workplace shall be upheld.’ I cannot sugar coat what has happened and characterize the events as an assault of a department employee by another with insubordination on both their parts. I ask that prudent judgement prevail in dealing with the safety of department personnel and preventing any possible recurrence or escalation of a similar nature”... Grant’s boss, city Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts, said he will review the written reports and confer with Grant. The city’s “zero tolerance” policy states that workplace violence “may” result in disciplinary, he said. It doesn’t mandate it... [Full article here]

28 comments:

  1. I am disturbed by this posting. It seems so lopsided. Is it domestic violence when your wife screws you out of your money and screws her divorce lawyer too? Was anyone physically hurt? Are lawyers above the laws? How might you react in this situation?

    ReplyDelete
  2. To the person who tried to post a comment here today... You brought a 4 year old into it and so I think you are way out of bounds and I can't approve the comment. That's pretty desperate and I sense a timebomb ticking.
    Please get some help before you do something that will destroy that 4 year olds life.

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  3. I'm confused. There seems to be a rush to judgement in this situation. If this gentleman was working at the time, what does that tell you about the wife.I am from this area, and i will tell you this, if she is with this attorney and was caught while this man was working, they both got what they deserved.

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  4. I am a 26 yr veteran of the NHFD.your website reeks of favortism. I WONDER. Do you have follow up articles? or is this one of those websites that helps you get some closure for whatever unfortunate incident led you to start it. This attorney was found out to have quite a reputation for this sort of behavior in our town, and although i cannot condone this man's actions, it does seem like the attorney was caught with his pants down. Please excuse the pun.

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  5. To the person who tried to post (again), really, breathe - ease up. You are still using the child in making your point. I won't let it be here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Angry Connecticut Firefighter Tossed in Jail
    Allegedly jumped from ambulance to attack wife's lawyer
    New Haven Register
    WILLIAM KAEMPFFER
    03-23-2008

    NEW HAVEN -- It wasn't the fight itself that created a spectacle Friday night in the city's entertainment district.

    It was the fact that the aggressor was an on-duty city firefighter, who allegedly jumped out of his fire department ambulance and attacked his wife's divorce lawyer when he saw the two together downtown.

    While he wasn't immediately arrested, Firefighter Matt Kennedy ultimately spent the night in jail, authorities said, and Fire Chief Michael Grant placed him on administrative leave.

    "He's due in court on Monday, and he's due in my office immediately after that," Grant said Saturday.

    The incident happened Friday evening at the busy corner of Temple and Crown streets and drew quite a crowd.

    Grant said he still didn't have all the details, but he provided this account as he said he understood it: Kennedy was working on an emergency unit and was returning from a medical call when he saw his estranged wife and a man together. He left the vehicle and confronted the woman and man. By the time the battalion chief arrived, police had them separated and the battalion chief and Kennedy's partner convinced him to get back in the rig and to the firehouse. There, when Kennedy remained visibly upset, a paramedic recommended he get checked out at the hospital.

    He was arrested by police at the hospital for violating a protective or restraining order his wife had against him, Grant said.

    "It was confrontational. I'm sure a million people saw it," he said. "It's disappointing to me and embarrassing to the department."

    Several sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, filled out the story a bit. They said Kennedy "lost it" when he saw his estranged wife and her attorney, Tony Wallace, a politically active Westville lawyer, together. Kennedy jumped out of the still-moving ambulance and assaulted Wallace, pushing him and knocking his glasses from his face. It's not clear if any punches were thrown. Then, after a crowd of spectators had gathered and as police spoke to Wallace, Kennedy allegedly broke free from police and firefighters who were restraining him and went after Wallace again, threatening him.

    Some questions were raised when Kennedy was pushed back into his rig and driven off, instead of being arrested at the scene, although charges ultimately were filed.

    The nature of Wallace's relationship with his client was not immediately clear.

    A message for Rob Smuts, the city's chief administrative officer who oversees both the police and fire departments, was not returned. A message left for Wallace at his home and office also was not returned Saturday.

    Kennedy and his wife are in the process of a divorce, and last year he was issued a short suspension after being arrested while off duty in Hamden in connection with a domestic disturbance. He also was involved in a firehouse run-in last August with a co-worker and allegedly choked him. Neither pursued the matter and Kennedy was not disciplined.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks - Here's something:

    “Zero Tolerance”: A Consistent Policy?
    October 3, 2007
    Saying he smelled a “cover-up,” an ex-firefighter confronted department brass about its handling of a “strangling” incident on the job. The ex-firefighter, Cliff Petteway, was tossed off the city firefighting force a few years ago after allegedly thrusting his finger at the former chief’s chest and making a personal threat (a charge he denied)... Then he heard about two current firefighters who recently got into a fight on the job involving “strangling” and unproved accusations of drunk driving. Those firefighters were not disciplined, even as at least one superior wrote a memo asking that the department take the incident seriously in light of the zero tolerance policy... Petteway called the board’s attention to the incident at the Lombard Street fire station on Aug. 9, where veteran firefighters Paul Mikolinski and Matt Kennedy reportedly got into a fight stemming from accusations of drunk driving. Three weeks ago, Chief Grant told the Independent he had decided not to discipline two firefighters... He later pointed to a written report of the incident that said Deputy Fire Chief Ryan tried to keep the matter under wraps. Ryan “spoke to both FF Kennedy and FF Mikolinski and also the men in the station. He told them it would be better to let this matter stay in the station,” Kennedy’s report read...
    http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/10/workplace_viole.php

    ReplyDelete
  8. Firefighters Fight … Each Other
    New Haven Independent
    by Paul Bass
    September 11, 2007
    Fire Chief Michael Grant said Tuesday he has decided not to discipline two firefighters involved in a fight on the job involving “strangling” and unproved accusations of drunk driving... Capt. Rosado was there and reported that “Firefighter Kennedy suddenly grabbed Firefighter Mikolinski in a choking motion while sitting at the kitchen table. Myself and Firefighter Larry Rogers struggled to separate Firefighter Kennedy from Firefighter Mikolinski”...

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  9. I have had the pleasure of working with FF Kennedy for almost 13 yrs. he is a credit to this dept and up until his ex wife's shenanigans, had a impecable record. she and this lawyer should both be ashamed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cool site, but the attorney's a snake. He screws all his clients in our town. I wonder how many former clients that succumbed to his "style" of law are reacting to the news. this is still a hot story in our neck of the woods.

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  11. it's tough to jump out of a moving vehicle when your driving it. Matt, hang in there bro.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't wait for the last round to be over!!!!!! HOLLA....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Behind the Blue wall... Why did you add another article? This website or the person behind this site seems to be adding fuel to the fire!WILLIAM KAEMPFFER was excited about this man's unfortunate event.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Which articles would you have me hold back from this blog?

    ReplyDelete
  15. OH it doesn't matter. They talked about Jesus.LOL

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  16. oh my goodness.
    :)
    no you didn't!

    haha.

    ReplyDelete
  17. By William Kaempffer, Register Staff

    NEW HAVEN — The state has sanctioned a city lawyer for engaging in a romantic relationship with a woman he was representing in her divorce from a city firefighter.

    Anthony Wallace, who has a practice in Westville, was issued a formal reprimand for his relationship with the woman, which violates the professional code of conduct.

    According to documents released this week by the state Judicial Branch, Wallace agreed to the reprimand.

    Wallace, who denied any improper relationship when contacted last year by the New Haven Register, did not return several calls to his office and personal phone seeking comment Wednesday.

    The Statewide Grievance Committee routinely investigates allegations that are more serious than those brought against Wallace, and the situation might have been disposed of unnoticed were it not for the circumstances surrounding it and an incident on a crowded downtown street last March.

    At the time, Wallace was representing Alison Kennedy in her divorce against then-husband Matthew Kennedy, a city firefighter. At about 8 on a Friday night, Kennedy, 42, observed his estranged wife and Wallace walking hand-in-hand in the downtown restaurant district. Kennedy jumped out of a fire ambulance and confronted the couple in front of a large crowd.

    Kennedy later was arrested and charged with violating a protective order stemming from a 2007 domestic arrest, among other charges.

    From the outset, Kennedy has been adamant that Wallace and his now ex-wife were romantically involved, despite Wallace’s public statements to the contrary. Kennedy last year filed a complaint with the state claiming ethics violations.

    Wallace, in accepting the reprimand, admitted that there was “clear and convincing evidence” to prove he violated the state rules of professional conduct, which forbids sexual relationships between lawyers and their clients. A grievance panel that reviewed the case said that holds particularly true in a divorce proceeding.

    “A divorce is often sufficiently volatile without a spouse being further agitated by his spouse’s attorney being romantically involved with his client,” wrote Michael Georgetti, the grievance counsel.

    Repeated efforts to reach Kennedy Wednesday also were unsuccessful.

    He served a six-month suspension from the Fire Department and is back on the job.

    The marriage was dissolved last July, with a Milford lawyer representing Alison Kennedy after Wallace bowed out of the case following the downtown confrontation.

    Another article added.....

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the article with no title or date... but I don't see the part in there that says it's legal to attack him.

    There is some kind of WIERD remnant from barbaric cave man days that I see on this blog all the time.

    People write in about slain victims and say "well, she was cheating on him," or a man is shot and people say the man was having an affair with the shooter's wife.

    I have faced infidelity and I know what I felt like doing about it. It's a primal impulse we get hit with - that can make us not even recognize ourselves.

    That doesn't mean we can DO whatever we feel like doing. We have a whole list of alternate responses available to us. They take some self control and self discipline.

    The primal urge is illegal.

    If you follow it, then you end up in the paper for assault or murder.

    That's the natural consequence and there's not a lot left to whine or blame about.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sunshines2xApril 05, 2009

    IT is not firefighter Kennedy that needs help. He has endured his punishment for all of his actions. Some how this lawyer believes that he is above the law.GOD punishes far more than any man! MY prayers are with the chiild from this union.

    ReplyDelete
  20. "If you follow it, then you end up in the paper for assault or murder."

    WOW someone better be careful of the words that they speak or write! It starts as a thought.I am concerned for this person. They need professional help! There was not a person that was physically injured in the incident. Please do not try to escalate the situition. Don't cry over spilled milk!

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  21. MATTHEW KENNEDYApril 22, 2010

    I was made aware of your website, and i must tell you it seems one sided. by you making me the posterboy for your website's attempt to give me a life sentence for having a verbal disagreement with my cheating wife and the bombshell of having to witness the dynamic duo painting the town red at my exspense, you succeeded min opening up new wounds.I must tell you ,it's one thing to talk about the lie after lie used by my ex and her new man, but it's entirely surreal to se my face at it's lowest moment. The great thing is that even though your website tells a story, it does not tell THE FULL STORY. I stand here vindicated of my actions that night as well as having the privalege to keep protecting and serving my city. Oh! and what happened to the dynamic duo you ask? She wants to get back togehter (which will never happen) and He has tried to hurt himself several times over the course of the last year and was disbarred for his lying to my EMPLOYER, CITY PAPER AND FAMILY COURT. YOU MAY THINK YOUR DOING SOME GOOD BUT IN MY CASE YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE ME. LASLY, YOUR WEBSITE SAYS IT REPORTS POLICE OFFICER INVLOVED DOMESTIC ISSUES, I'M A FIREFIGHTER SIR OR MS. WE'LL SEE WHAT MY LAWYWR THINKS ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE.

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  22. I was feelin' ya until you got to the threats. I hope that works for you in your life.

    And in posted descriptions of this blog I say it is for police, firefighter, and public official involved dv.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Before you flap your lips run a search through the blog for firefighter and see what you find.

    At the bottom of each page will be a link to see more.

    It should keep you reading at least into tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  24. M KennedyMay 10, 2010

    I had a chance to read the your response to my blog, but once again was not impressed. no threats were issued on my part, just a inquiry to the authorites on your sites constant usage of one sides stories. to think that someone would start a blog riddled with faces of SOME bad men and call it justified is laughable. The sorry truth is that we are all human and can sometimes do things out of anger or hurt feelings that stay with us for life. Furthermore, while there seems to be a steady supply of men behaving badly, your post seems to fall short of the women in service who show less than steller judgement in their behavior. I would hate to think that a double standard exist within our system with regard to such case. Lastly, I have taken the time to look at this blog, and my question is, WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT. We already have so many avenues to see this stuff. your mission statement doeasn't reallty tell much about it, and all the post are of the KICKING THE DEAD HORSE VARIETY. Hopefully you will stop picking at the scab of other people's problems and solve your own because of all the people who are probably in therapy, you may need the most. God bless you and i hope you find a level of peace in your life.

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousMay 31, 2010

    As someone who knew Matt for many years, I stand by him and support him. He is a great person and loves his job. all you naysayers need to leave him alone ans get BOTH sides of the story! Good for you, Matt for standing up for yourself!
    Hope you are well.
    Colleen

    ReplyDelete
  26. Everything is in God's hands. I have known Matt all my life! We did not grow up with violence in our home.He has been my rock and shield. God is still in the blessing business! MUCH ♡

    ReplyDelete
  27. STATE PUNISHES CITY LAWYER FOR AFFAIR WITH CLIENT
    April 2, 2009
    By William Kaempffer, Register Staff
    NEW HAVEN — The state has sanctioned a city lawyer for engaging in a romantic relationship with a woman he was
    representing in her divorce from a city firefighter... At the time, Wallace was representing Alison Kennedy in her divorce against then-husband Matthew Kennedy, a city firefighter... [Full article here]

    ReplyDelete

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