Norwalk cop arrested after road rage incident retires: PD

NORWALK, CT — A Norwalk police officer who was charged in a road rage incident near Trumbull earlier this year retired this week after an internal investigation found he violated several department rules of conduct, police said.

In a statement sent to the media, Police Chief James Walsh said Officer David Vetare, 54, was arrested by Connecticut State Police on charges of reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle with intent to harass or intimidate, second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree breach of peace.

According to Walsh, police conducted an internal investigation after Vetare's arrest to determine whether he violated the department's rules and regulations manual.

The investigation found that Vetare violated several rules of conduct in the Norwalk police manual, and Vetare retired Tuesday, Walsh said.

“As I have said before, these actions do not define our department as a whole and do not reflect the men and women of the Norwalk Police Department who serve our citizens,” Walsh said. “I understand that these events have shaken the trust in our department that we have worked so hard to build in the past. I assure Norwalk residents that I am committed to transparency, accountability for officers, and the highest standards of integrity.”

According to an incident report provided by state police, Troop G troopers received a report on March 9 around 12 p.m. from a woman who said her vehicle was struck by an object during a road rage incident on Route 15 North between Exits 44 and 49.

The woman told officers the driver of a beige GMC Yukon with a Connecticut license plate threw an object at her car and followed her in an attempt to run her off the road, according to state police.

Officers later located the vehicle and the driver was identified as Vetare, who admitted his involvement in the incident, state police said.

At the time of his arrest, Vetare was the third Norwalk police officer to be charged in a month. In response, Walsh promised “transparency and accountability” from the department.

In a statement released at the time of Vetare's arrest, Walsh reassured Norwalk residents that maintaining their safety and trust remains the department's top priority.

“While recent events may cause uncertainty, I want to emphasize that these actions do not define our department as a whole,” Walsh said. “We are committed to transparency, accountability and the highest standards of integrity.”