State v. Connecticut State University Organization of Administrative Faculty, AFSCME, Council 4, Local 2836, AFL-CIO

Citations

• 349 Conn. 148

Syllabus

The plaintiff, the state of Connecticut, sought to vacate, and the defendant union sought to confirm, an arbitration award reinstating the grievant union member to his employment as the director of student conduct at a state university. In that position, the grievant was responsible for enforcing the student code of conduct, and his job duties required him to investigate violations of that code and to work closely with the student body, the faculty, and the local police, among others. The grievant's employment had been terminated in connection with a domestic dispute involving his wife. On the night of the dispute, the grievant's wife left their home and called the police, claiming that the grievant had threatened to kill himself and her, and expressing concern for the safety of their children, who were still in the home. In response to the police presence around the home, the grievant called the police department and told the dispatcher that, although he had guns in the home, he would not harm law enforcement or his children. The grievant refused to open the door for the police officers on the scene but was told that he would receive a call from another police officer, M, and that M would discuss the grievant's exit from the home and subsequent arrest. After M called 349 Conn. 148 JUNE, 2024 149 State v. Connecticut State University Organization of Administrative Faculty, AFSCME, Council 4, Local 2836, AFL-CIO the grievant, the grievant exited the home and was arrested without incident. Two weeks after the event, the grievant's wife sought and obtained a civil protective order. The Department of Children and Fami- lies (DCF) also made a determination that the grievant had physically neglected his children, which was later reversed on appeal as unsubstan- tiated. In addition, the state had charged the grievant with various crimi- nal offenses, including kidnapping in the first degree and risk of injury to a child, but all of the charges ultimately were dismissed. Wh