The Associated Press
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP)- State Sen. Ernest Newton II is facing criticism over comments he made following the fatal shooting of a distant relative by police.
Jonathan Mosley, 41, was killed by three police officers Tuesday night after he attacked the officers with a baseball bat in an apartment at the Bridgeport Commons complex, police said.
Newton, D-Bridgeport, was quoted as saying at a news conference Wednesday that the shooting could lead to retaliation.
“There is a pattern of police coming into our neighborhoods with an attitude of, ‘Make my day.’ There are some young men out there who might want to take the law into their own hands and shoot some cops,” Newton said.
Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi called Newton’s remarks, “outrageous, irresponsible and dangerous.”
Police Chief Wilbur Chapman said Newton, who was related by marriage to Mosely, should avoid making inflammatory comments about the case.
“If Sen. Newton has a relative involved in an illegal activity, he should recuse himself and let someone with more objectivity handle the situation so he does not make emotional, hateful and irresponsible statements,” Chapman said.
The deputy president pro tempore of the state Senate, Newton co-chairs the legislature’s Public Safety Committee, which oversees police-related issues. He was first elected to the legislature in 1989 as a member of the House of Representatives.
Newton issued a statement Thursday backing off his original comments.
“The death of Jonathan Mosley was a tragedy and has resulted in a particularly emotional and difficult time for our family,” said Newton. “I was simply trying to point out the worst-case scenario that could arise from such an emotional situation; a scenario that would be unacceptable, counterproductive and possibly as tragic as the one involving Jonathan.”
In an editorial Friday, the Connecticut Post called for Newton’s resignation. The paper said the senator’s remarks “are inexcusable and unacceptable under any circumstances.”
In a letter to the editor released Friday, Newton called that editorial a “near hysterical” response to the situation.
“What everyone in the community needs to do at this time is very clear: exercise restraint, continue their law-abiding day-to-day life, and await the results of the investigation into this situation,” he said.