Norwalk police officer arrested for second time this year

NORWALK, Connecticut – Norwalk police Officer Hector Delgado was arrested Friday for the second time this year, according to a Norwalk police news release from Police Chief James Walsh.

Walsh said he received a complaint Thursday from a citizen reporting an off-duty disturbance involving Delgado. The Norwalk Police Detective Bureau launched a criminal investigation based on the information received.

Following the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Delgado, Walsh said. He is charged with first-degree menacing, second-degree speeding and tailgating with a motor vehicle.

Delgado, Norwalk’s former Police Officer of the Year, was arrested Friday and held on a court-set $50,000 bail; he is scheduled to appear in court on June 21.

According to Walsh, Delgado was immediately placed on leave and his police powers were suspended.

“As your police chief, I want to assure you that we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and transparency,” Walsh said in the release. “This officer’s actions do not reflect the values ​​and principles our department stands for. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, accountability and professionalism in all aspects of our service to the community.”

In February, Delgado was arrested by Bridgeport police and charged with third-degree stalking and second-degree harassment in connection with a domestic violence incident, FOX 61 reported. Bridgeport police said the original incident occurred on Feb. 7. The charges have since been dropped.

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The Norwalk Hour reported in February that Delgado has been arrested multiple times during his law enforcement career. In 2019, he was accused of driving while intoxicated and causing an accident on Interstate 95 in Fairfield.

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Delgado, who was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.2034, or more than twice the legal limit, was granted two probation programs and accelerated rehabilitation, according to the article.

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According to the Norwalk Hour, a judge also dismissed the charge of illegal possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.

The article further notes that at least nine substantiated allegations have been made against Delgado since 2003. According to the article, Delgado was suspended for five days that year for violating and failing to follow rules, in 2011 he was suspended for five days for violating and failing to follow rules, in 2012 he was suspended for 10 days for disorderly conduct, and in 2015 former Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik ordered him to undergo therapy for failing to comply with orders and dereliction of duty.

The article further mentions that in 1996, Delgado received a 500-day suspension after being charged with third-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment after a 28-year-old woman accused him of groping her during a traffic stop in Norwalk. The jury found her testimony not credible and he was acquitted.

In his press release, Walsh assured the public that any actions by department employees that do not meet standards of integrity, accountability and professionalism will not be tolerated.

“Any behavior that deviates from these standards will not be tolerated. I can assure you that I am committed to ethical conduct and am committed to fully investigating any allegations to the contrary,” Walsh said in the press release.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

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