By John Schwing

WESTPORT — The Connecticut NAACP president has apologized to Police Chief Foti Koskinas after he was quoted Tuesday by Hearst Connecticut Media reacting to the brutal police beating that claimed the life of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, saying police misconduct is part of a nationwide pattern also seen in Connecticut, and erroneously cited Westport as one example.

The article included a link to a 2011 civil-rights lawsuit against a police officer in the Massachusetts town of Westport — an error subsequently scrubbed from the Hearst publications’ websites. The Hearst article as of Tuesday afternoon, however, had no acknowledgement of the earlier error.

The remarks by NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile, as quoted in the original Hearst article, sparked local concern since Koskinas earlier in the week issued a statement condemning the conduct of the five Memphis police officers now facing murder charges in the Nichols case.

The Westport Police Department is “appalled at the actions of the former Memphis police officers and their involvement in the death of Tyre Nichols,” Koskinas said. “We stand united with the rest of the country in extending our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Nichols.” 

The chief added, “The high level of training received by Westport police officers, coupled with their professionalism and judgment, allows me to confidently say something like this would never happen here. Koskinas’s statement also was endorsed by First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker. 

Esdaile, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Westport police, later apologized to Koskinas, the Westport Police Department and the town of Westport, saying that he mistakenly meant to reference a police misconduct case in West Haven, while citing others he said have occurred in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. 

“I’m deeply apologetic for this mistake,” Esdaile said, according to the police statement.

“I have had a conversation with the chief along with Harold Bailey, the chairman of the Westport Civilian Review Panel, and we had a wonderful and energetic conversation,” he added. “I apologized during the call several times and we are looking forward to working together in the future.” 

Koskinas, according to the statement, described his conversation with Esdaile as “productive and brought about a positive resolution” of the issue.

John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.