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CT Supreme Court denies fired New Haven officer’s petition for appeal

Congratulations to Attorneys Floyd Dugas and Rebecca Goldberg on an impressive victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court!

The article and photo below were published in the New Haven Register on April 2, 2025
By Brian Zahn, Staff Writer

New Haven, Connecticut – Tuesday, June 16, 2020: Perick Appo of New Haven, left, speaks to the crowd as approximately 20 people with Latina en Accion, Black and Brown United in Action that incudes supporters rally in front of New Haven City Hall Tuesday evening during a New Haven Police Commissioners meeting demanding the firing of New Haven Police Officer Jason Santiago for hitting a handcuffed man in police custody in December 2019. The rally also called for the “demilitarization” of police. Peter Hvizdak/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN — A fired New Haven police officer’s attempt to appeal his termination before the state’s Supreme Court was denied this week.

In a Tuesday filing the Supreme Court denied former officer Justin Santiago’s petition. Santiago was fired following a Dec. 25, 2019 incident during which he kicked a handcuffed man in the groin and then lifted him from the ground by his hair. The handcuffed man then spit in Santiago’s face and mouth, following which Santiago struck the man back to the ground with a closed fist, a reaction that an internal affairs report found to be justified.

However, the city’s police commission voted 4-2 in 2020 that Santiago’s actions during the stop constituted excessive force; a state mediation board later upheld the commission’s decision.

Santiago’s attorney Alex Taubes did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday, but said on Monday that the petition was his client’s last opportunity to appeal for his job other than to reapply for his position.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement that Santiago’s actions during the 2019 incident were “unacceptable” and the police commission made the right decision in terminating him.

“The decision has now been sustained by the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, the Connecticut  Superior Court, and the Connecticut Supreme Court – and after five years of appeals, it can finally be permanently put to rest,” he said. “Overwhelmingly, our police officers hold themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our residents and keep our community safe. However, when an officer deviates from these high standards like what occurred in this incident, there must be accountability and a clear message that those actions will not tolerated by the New Haven Police Department.”