Mass. expert named to oversee Conn. police reform

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A former Boston police commissioner and international law enforcement expert has been named to oversee a civil rights settlement calling for police reforms in East Haven.

Federal and local officials announced Tuesday that Kathleen O'Toole will be their joint compliance expert for the reform agreement reached last year.

O'Toole has recently completed a six-year term as chief of an oversight body responsible for reforms in the Irish national police force.

She began her career a Boston patrol officer, served there as police commissioner and also as Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety.

Four East Haven officers were charged last year with civil rights violations after Latino residents complained of mistreatment.

The settlement calls for mandatory training on bias-free policing, developing new policies on applying for search warrants, and stronger community engagement efforts.