Reinstate Keith Norfleet as Lieutenant w/ New Haven Fire Department After False Allegation

The Issue

The life of Keith Norfleet, a trusted and well-respected former lieutenant with the City of New Haven at the New Haven Fire Department (NHFD), has been turned upside down due to a false report of sexual assault. Prior to these unfounded allegations, Keith was known for his honesty, kindness, humility, and integral nature, qualities which led to his promotion within the NHFD after 10 years of dedicated service. Despite being found not guilty, he lost his job two months prior to the conclusion of his trial, his reputation, and his ability to provide for his family, causing untold distress and financial hardship. 

False reports, while rare and making up only 2-10% of all reported sexual assault cases (Rainn.org), can result in severe repercussions for the wrongfully accused, often culminating in the loss of livelihood and social standing. These innocent people should not be left stranded. It is unjust for an individual, such as Keith, to continue to bear the brunt of a false allegation even after being absolved by the justice system.

I am demanding that the powers that be in the New Haven Fire Department acknowledge his innocence, respect the court's decision, and reinstate Keith Norfleet to his previous position, restoring his dignity, livelihood, and ability to support his family. Sign the petition to stand for justice, to support the wrongly accused, and to ensure the return of a dedicated public servant to his rightful position.

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The Issue

The life of Keith Norfleet, a trusted and well-respected former lieutenant with the City of New Haven at the New Haven Fire Department (NHFD), has been turned upside down due to a false report of sexual assault. Prior to these unfounded allegations, Keith was known for his honesty, kindness, humility, and integral nature, qualities which led to his promotion within the NHFD after 10 years of dedicated service. Despite being found not guilty, he lost his job two months prior to the conclusion of his trial, his reputation, and his ability to provide for his family, causing untold distress and financial hardship. 

False reports, while rare and making up only 2-10% of all reported sexual assault cases (Rainn.org), can result in severe repercussions for the wrongfully accused, often culminating in the loss of livelihood and social standing. These innocent people should not be left stranded. It is unjust for an individual, such as Keith, to continue to bear the brunt of a false allegation even after being absolved by the justice system.

I am demanding that the powers that be in the New Haven Fire Department acknowledge his innocence, respect the court's decision, and reinstate Keith Norfleet to his previous position, restoring his dignity, livelihood, and ability to support his family. Sign the petition to stand for justice, to support the wrongly accused, and to ensure the return of a dedicated public servant to his rightful position.

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The Decision Makers

Justin Elicker
New Haven City Mayor
Responded
Hello Petition Supporters, My name is Jason and I am on the Decision Maker team here at Change.org. I reached out to the Mayor's office to let them know about the petition and help facilitate engagement. The Mayor's office followed up my phone outreach with an email that I wanted to be sure to share with you all. You can find the email in full below. Hope you find this information useful. Email Response: Good day Jason, I was forwarded your voicemail to the City of New Haven concerning Lt. Keith Norfleet. Please see the comment below. “The Board of Fire Commissioners voted to terminate Mr. Norfleet for violations of departmental rules and regulations on August 8th, 2024. Mr. Norfleet is challenging this termination, and the matter is currently before the Connecticut State Board of Mediation & Arbitration. The city continues to hold that Mr. Norfleet’s violations of departmental rules and regulations warranted termination, and we are hopeful that the Board will rule in the city’s favor. Overwhelmingly, New Haven firefighters hold themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our residents and keep our city safe. However, when a firefighter deviates from these high standards like what occurred with Mr. Norfleet, there must be accountability for their actions and a clear message that those actions will not tolerated by the New Haven Fire Department.”

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