Police Sergeant Fired by Police Commission

A 23-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department who has often been at odds with the department's brass and fellow officers was fired by the town's Police Commission last week.

Sgt. Diane Krahm's termination, effective immediately, followed a 5-0 vote by the commission, which is comprised of volunteer residents appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

Police Chief David Peck confirmed Monday evening that Krahm had been fired, but referred additional questions to Town Attorney Richard Saxl.

Saxl today said, "Basically, she created a hostile work environment by sexually harassing a female member of the department. Part two, she was not truthful during the Internal Affairs Division's investigation, and that is an absolute requirement of a police officer. You have to be truthful. No exceptions."

Saxl said Krahm has the right to appeal her termination to the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration. "I would anticipate that she would do that," he said.

Krahm's termination followed Police Commission hearings on her alleged misconduct.

Krahm in the past sued the department alleging that she was discriminated against because of her gender and sexual orientation and she also previously filed a complaint with the state Commission of Human Rights & Opportunities.

The town settled the suit, but Krahm later said the town didn't live up to its part of the settlement and filed another suit, but she lost that suit as well as the CHRO complaint, Saxl said.

"In each case that has gone to judgment, the town won. The only case the town didn't win was the case that was settled in the 1990s," Saxl said.

Krahm previously had been found by the department to have sexually harassed a male officer and she underwent training after that finding, Saxl said.

Saxl said the complaint that led to Krahm's termination was filed by an unidentified officer with the town's Human Resources Department in the Honorable John J. Sullivan Independence Hall.

Krahm is entitled to a pension because she had been a police officer for more than 20 years, but she is not entitled to medical benefits because she hadn't reached the age of 51 before she was fired, Saxl said.