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A Greenwich Police captain has been placed on leave amid a controversy involving posting fake political signs.
Capt. Mark Kordick was placed on leave on Monday, Oct. 28, after the department was informed of his involvement in placing the fake signs around town over the past week that had been causing much controversy, said Greenwich Police Lt. John Suluarz.
Reportedly the signs, purchased by Kordick, link Republican first selectman candidate Fred Camillo to President Donald Trump.
The signs featured a website FredCamillo.com, that redirects users to a pro-Donald Trump website called CitizensforTrump.com.
Kordick told the Greenwich Free Press that he bought the signs, but did not place them.
“I didn’t know the municipal government could issue an employment consequence for my participation in the political process like every American citizen,” he told the Free Press, adding that he has retained an attorney.
He told the Free Press that the purpose of the signs was to get voters thinking about the positions of political candidates and how their election was really an endorsement of that party's national positions.
The police department says the leave will last until a full review of the circumstances to determine if any departmental rules or regulations were violated.
"The police administration will reserve passing judgment until all the facts are reviewed and Captain Kordick will be afforded all the due process rights in which he is entitled," the department said in a statement.
Kordick also told the Free Press that the signs "represented his right as a citizen, taxpayer, and resident of Greenwich to express his free speech."
Greenwich zoning enforcement officer Jodi Couture, told the news outlet that all campaign lawn signs are protected as free speech.
Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei’s, who also serves as the police commissioner said: "I am disheartened by the admitted behavior of Captain Mark Kordick.
"It is questionable actions such as this that besmirch the otherwise outstanding reputation of the Greenwich Police Department. One would expect better.”
The department said it will have no further comment until the review is complete.
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