Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 31

7 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Thmdoy, Octobw 27, 1994 B7v3 NEW BRITAIN wa NEW BRITAIN Arrests spark probe by police board i The two local officers were among five arrested as a result of a grand jury finding. 99 cm These officers are innocent until proven guilty." Cloukey, 32, faces various charges stemming from allegations that Tie tipped off a New Britain drug dealer about raids, got back confiscated drugs and did other Phillips, 38, was charged with perjury and using a fake search warrant to enter a cafe dancer's" apartment to get an audiotape on which he bragged about skimming money and drugs from a suspect. The pair were among five officers arrested as a result of a state grand jury finding made public Tuesday. Three Hartford officers were charged with various crimes, many involving protection of drug dealers. All five are free on bond and suspended from duty.

It's not clear whether other arrests are forthcoming, said Mayor Linda Blogoslawski, who has vowed an internal affairs investigation and continued cooperation with the chief state's attorney's By BILL LEUKHARDT Courant Staff Writer NEW BRITAIN City lawyers and police commissioners will meet tonight to map out their own investigation of two officers arrested this week as part of a grand jury probing police corruption in Hartford. The special board of police commissioners meeting at 7 p.m. will look at how best to react to the arrests of Det. Daniel Phillips, a member of the task force on gangs, and Officer Kevin Cloukey. Both were stripped of their badges and guns Tuesday and suspended with pay, as called for in the police union contract with the city.

"We will see what possible remedies the commission has regarding the two officers charged with felonies," commission Chairman Richard Judd said. "There is a public outcry over the issue of suspension with pay. I understand the frustration but there are issues of contract language and constitutional rights. NEW BRITAIN staff. Numerous drug users and dealers in the Hartford area were named in the report but not charged.

Crucial to the city's own probe will be the still-sealed transcripts of grand jury testimony concerning Phillips and Cloukey and the evidence that led to charges against them. Corporation Counsel Peter Mlyn-afczyk said the testimony, the basis of the arrest affidavits, will give New Britain a starting point for its own probe. He said the city will file petitions with the grand juror, Superior Court Judge Arthur Spada, seeking release of the transcripts. But because the investigation is still continuing, Mlynarczyk said it's uncertain whether the grand jury evidence will be released. Other cities, such as Waterbury, where police were probed from 1984 through 1986, have not been successful in getting transcripts released.

NEW BRITAIN "I don't have high hopes about it," Mlynarczyk said. "From what is being reported, there may be more arrests coming. It may be difficult to get transcripts if that's that case." Meanwhile, the arrests were the hot topic as people lingered over morning coffee or lunch at city restaurants. "It was the only topic," said Dolores Romano, who opened her All-Sweet Bakery across from city hall for business at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

"Everybody talked about it. A lot of people know Officer Cloukey and nobody believes it happened to him. I can't myself. He's a good person, an excellent person." im V. rn I1 I ml i--v Police chief fields gripes from residents Store offers trade-ins for used video games I iL 1 I A 1 1 i ie ww iiii bery.

Sencio also tried to reassure people that the arrests Tuesday of two city police officers on corruption charges, for actions uncovered by a Hartford-based grand jury, are sad but isolated incidents, not indicative of the entire force. "I am not the chief of a corrupt police department," he said. "I am the chief of a large department that happens to have two officers who have been arrested. We have to presume they are innocent. No one knows if they've done anything wrong.

But the allegations are very serious. If police are found guilty, the judge sentences not from a soapbox, but the bench. Nobody likes a dirty cop, especially a clean one." Mayor Linda Blogoslawski was there mostly to listen. She said she and the new chief agree that it is important for people to know more about the department, its services and the way people can help it. BSC? By MEREDITH CARLSON Courant Staff Writer NEW BRITAIN FuncoLand, a chain of used video-game stores, has opened an outlet near West-farms mall for video lovers who want to trade in their wares.

The store, which opened last month, buys and sells video games and equipment. Videos can be traded in at the store for as little as a dime or as much as $30, depending on the age, quality and popularity of the item, said Bob Hiben, a company official. The store, at 60 1 Hartford Road in New Britain, sells the games for up to $60. Generally, the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega games keep their value, Hiben said. There also are FuncoLand stores in Manchester, Meriden, Danbury, Norwalk, North Haven, Waterbury and Milford.

The outlets are part of a 163-store national chain owned by Funco Inc. Fortune Magazine listed Funco as one of the 1 1 fastest-growing chains in the nation, Hiben said. The stores are small, employ three to five workers, and are located near malls and in shopping centers. The store carries more than 1,500 game titles; a few are new. Company officials prefer to call the old games "previously played." 'Used' has a connotation of wearing out," Hiben said, and most video games last for decades.

The company publishes "Game Informer" magazine, a bimonthly publication with a circulation of more than 100,000. The Minnesota-based company opened in 1988 when David and Pennie Pomije began selling videos by mail from their home. The couple opened their first store in 1990 and sold $50,000 in videos in the first year. A- ---Jr -v mt-- Michael McAndrews The Hartford Courant''' PEEK EXPERIENCE Stanley Marek, 72, takes his grandson Zachary Marek, 11 months, on a walk around Stanley Park in Ney" Britain Wednesday. (.

'KZ By BILL LEUKHARDT Courant Staff Writer NEW BRITAIN The two gold stars on William Sencio's uniform may signify "police chief" but Wednesday night, his job was complaint clerk. From the several dozen people gathered at Northend Elementary School, Sencio got an earful about the city he has helped police since the early 1970s and the department he took over a month ago. For more than two hours, Sencio listened to people tell tales of neighborhood disintigration, the need for more police presence, fears of crime, worries for children and fading', hopes that anything can be fixed. How come the police don't chase drug dealers from Mill Street? one woman asked. A man asked if police could get a marijuana plant growing on a neighbor's windowsill.

Other? asked why do they wait so long for cops to come or what to do about teen punks trashing their streets. Sencio wrote down notes, responded to questions and tried to get across the idea that New Britain's 153-member police force is professional, decent and dedicated to making the city a better, safer place. do the best they can, responding to most serious calls first, he said. He told several people who said they had not gotten responses to complaints to call again and get to him personally if nothing happens. He said he's demanding that police always treat the public well and notJ)e rude.

A cop can't have a bad day while on duty, he said. Although people fear crime, he said, the most recent statistics show a slight dip in the rate of the most serious crimes tracked by state police; murder, assault, rape, auto theft, larceny, burglary and rob- aroi Aod Hi! OFFER EXTENDED THRU OCT. 31 We 9 ire tX7 inn .1 111 MIRACLES or 5, r.4 JIFFY -1 CAR WASH ALL CLOTH CAR WASH VI ItTI r-r wcouoon 1535 Albany Avenue I Hartford 728-8267 I (Cmr of Afctny 1 HotMrtMd, I txp. 11794 AeroM from Thomw Codlll(c)j ii it ivr ft, 19 Saturday, November 5, 1994 Gengras Ambulatory Care Center 1000 Asylum Avenue, Hartford "Wellness and Aging: The Psychological Aspects" The second of three free seminars focused on helping seniors remain healthy and active, offered in conjunction with MIRACLES the Saint FrancisMount Sinai annual black-tie gala, and this year's theme: "The Ageless Spirit of Seniors." Health professionals will highlight: How to remain connected to community, family, and friends Changing family dynamics as a family member becomes older The spiritual aspects of aging: reflecting on your life to find meaning and purpose The seminar is from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Gengras Ambulatory Care Center Auditorium.

Continental breakfast provided. To register please call 548-5000 by October 31. Seating is limited. Hartford residents can take advantage of Dial-A-Ride service to and from the seminar by calling 722-8473 by October 28. End baldness in r.

3 12 hours or Gradually over Time 11. 1 Come see why we're staying put, and maybe we'll put you in Club Med! New England Bank made a commitment to the Poquonock area. We've been here for years, established and secure, and now we're even better. Just look what's new at our 2100 Poquonock Avenue Branch More tellers An extra drive-thru lane Extended Hours More safe deposit boxes A Drive-up ATM And a beautiful new look! Now through October 31st, visit our new branch and youH find a treasure chest full of prizes from pens to gift certificates. And every visitor may enter the grand prize drawing a trip to Club Med And while you enjoy refreshments, well tell you about our grand reopening specials for new customers.

Like Free safe deposit boxes for the rest of '94 Free first order of checks Business checking for. less guaranteed! So come see why you should stay put with us. Member fS jJ fdic IVpxv Fnrlond Baxili iur? Foll.Thlckenina an advanced new procedure available exclusively from Connecticut Hair I Transplant Group. Using the output ol living hair follicles CHT6 restores your natural hairline right down to the very last strand. This advanced microscopic procedure is the talk (and envy) of every hair replacement company in the tieli We specialize in MfvftM to hair loss.

When it comes to hair restoration and replacement our best work goes unnoticed. Call for your free consultation. Connecticut Uzt u- ltrUE.H Poquonock Office 83-7451 -fx- A- SAINT FRANCIS MOUNT SINAI I iMMlliiinti bmmmt EotrnU be 1 mi or Mcr particlptt. Nw impkir mi tbir fullift an sot li(ibl tor th (rud pHs dim wing. Oh puaM.

Dnwiivf wUI Ih mi bwinaaa on October SI, 1W4 tmfUm Bask 136 Berlin Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 (33) C32-7770 1.