NEW HAVEN — Assistant Police Chief Peter Reichard was relieved of duty today, the police chief confirmed.

Chief James Lewis said Reichard, who heads the detective division, was sent home as a result of a series of issues regarding managerial style and standards. As a non-union employee, Reichard’s future at the department now lies with Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

Lewis declined to go into detail about the specific reasons, saying it was an ongoing investigation. The information has been forwarded, he said, to DeStefano and the city’s Department of Human Resources.

“This is not a corruption issue,” Lewis said.

Reichard was required to turn in his gun, badge, and keys.

City spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said an investigation will take place and once complete, results will be given to the mayor, who will then decide what steps to take next.

“Reichard was relieved of duty as we review issues around his management style and conduct,” she said.

Lewis promoted Reichard, a 22-year veteran of the department, to assistant chief in 2008 and put him in charge of investigative service, overseeing the major crimes, special investigations and narcotics squads.

Last September, a detective filed a workplace violence complaint against Reichard with the city’s Human Resources department. Reichard allegedly had taken issue with his work attire, including a pair of white shoes he wore at least once, and threatened, according to the complaint. to break the detective’s legs below the knees, or words to that effect, if he ever wore them again.

The New Haven Register reported on the complaint that same month. That same month, Reichard threatened to arrest the reporter who wrote the story if the reporter ever contacted him again. Continued...

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“I was told by officials in the city that the assistant chief’s conduct was being investigated and that the city took these actions seriously,” Register Editor Jack Kramer said Friday. “I was pleased to hear that they did.’’

Asked Friday if that threat factored into the decision to put Reichard on leave, Lewis said, “It’s certainly a piece.”

But he added that the decision was based on a larger pattern of concerns.

Read more in tomorrow's Register and here at newhavenregister.com.

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