Retired Police Officer, Verna Kearney fought tooth and nail to uphold the law and protect her community and “Recycled Teenagers” while on the job. Plenty of TV news segments and articles were written regarding her many fights for Justice. Now, the former Officer Friendly and DARE Officer is suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Verna’s health crisis began when her husband, the late, Captain Nelson Kearney passed away. The same day that he died, Verna suffered a massive, debilitating stroke. 
The stroke was a blessing in disguise as the doctors discovered a brain tumor when scanning for the stroke. Verna would spend the next decade having brain surgeries, seizures, she even battled and beat a rare ovarian cancer and finally, she began taking on her greatest foe yet, Alzheimer’s.
Upon the onset of the disease, her oldest son, Joseph Wallace took the financial reins. At first, things seemed fine, but then, though she received almost double the median US household income from her and Captain Kearney’s pensions, her beloved home on Lakeside Drive, in Bridgeport’s Lake Forest area, was foreclosed on. Her son moved her to Avalon Gates where again, she was evicted for nonpayment. He then moved her again to a senior community in Stratford where once again, she was behind on payments, this time, to the tune of $38,000. Many of her precious belongings, including 2 vehicles were placed in a storage container never to be seen again. During visits from her out of town daughters, they would notice her cable and phone being turned off, or her hair not being done, and she would have very bad tooth pain. When Verna’s two youngest daughters would ask what is happening, Joseph’s response would be that “she’s not in pain, she is an actress” and that he was “moving her money into CD’s to save for her.” More red flags were raised when she began to be seen for a mass on her ovaries and a lie was told from Joseph that “she is receiving chemo, but does not have cancer.” Her youngest daughter, who was in healthcare knew that this was very strange. Questions were asked and the truth finally came out. One that she actually did have cancer and Two, that Joseph “might have over used her finances.”

Her daughter Christal who has helped nurse her back to life previously, hopped on the first thing smoking to bring her to begin chemotherapy treatments at one of the best Hospitals in America. Upon her move, Christal found out that her mom had $0 in the bank. In fact, the day Joseph realized she was leaving, He withdrew her last $500 from her account. Verna needed major dental work prior to her chemotherapy as her teeth had damage and decay from lack of upkeep from Joseph. She had no medical insurance and Joseph refused to pay stating that their mother’s money was still tied up in cds. 
Though Verna was ill and battling cancer and Alzheimer’s, she reached out to her friend, Detective Papaduluch who in return contacted Detective Sarah Patrick. Sarah worked  tirelessly to collect information on what she alleged summed up to be over $100k taken from Verna within less than 2 years. The official Charge for Larceny in the 1st degree was submitted and His arrest was made.
The amount in full can be upwards of $700k as there were 8 years in total that Joseph was over her finances.
Let’s not forget to mention, the beginning of the 8years, unknown to his siblings, Joseph’s home was in foreclosure. His home was saved, yet Verna’s home was taken. Through these years, Joseph enjoyed lavish family trips and field seats at his favorite football games. He would rent rooms at local hotels for his family so they can attend his annual Crab boil, which ran only during these 8years. 
In the small town, Joseph has many friends in the courts. Because of this, Covid, and corruption within the Bridgeport legal system, Joseph’s case has been stifled in court for years. His lawyer’s push the case back 28 times to be exact. Court documents have been lost forever and records are hidden from public view as if he is a celebrity. The state’s attorney assigned to her case has suddenly been promoted to a judge which now leaves Verna’s  case in the hands to a new state attorney whose voicemail doesn’t even have the correct name or voice attached to it. Christal now takes care of Verna and as her legal guardian, has requested from the prosecutors office that Joseph does not see jail time but instead, apologize in writing, pay restitution and go through therapy for the ordeal. Unbeknownst to Verna’s guardian, a deal has been presented for Joseph to pay a small amount back and to attend a program which removes any records of his wrongdoing. 
Verna’s two youngest daughters are now seeking Justice for the Officer who so tirelessly fought to protect, elders, children, and battered women. For the Officer who stood up to racial discrimination and who loved on her community so much that she ran for State Representative.

Let’s give Bridgeport’s Mayor Ganim a call at (203) 576-7201 or send an email to her assigned DA Peter Cunniff Peter.cunniff@ct.gov and ask if Retired Officer Verna Kearney will get Justice!
 Help us get this story seen and heard!

Verna Deserves Justice.