Two Connecticut detectives who were handling Lauren Smith-Fields’ case have been placed on leave after outrage from the public due to their negligence.
RELATED STORIES: Bridgeport Mayor Announces Internal Investigation Into Handling Of The Death Of Lauren Smith-Fields — Medical Examiner Rules Death As An “Accident”
Detective Kevin Cronin and Detective Angel Llanos were immediately placed on leave following public outcry over the handling of Lauren Smith-Fields’ and Brenda Lee Rawls’ death investigations. Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said in the following statement that the detectives were suspended due to their “lack of sensitivity to the public and failure to follow police policy in the handling of these two matters.”
As previously reported, Smith-Fields was found dead in her apartment last month after meeting a man from Bumble. According to NBC News, the man she met online was not listed as a person of interest in the case and no charges have been filed as per her family’s attorney. Rawls,53, was also found dead in her apartment on the same day as Smith-Fields. In both cases, their families were not notified about their deaths by police.
RELATED STORIES: Woman Found Dead In Her Apartment After Meeting Older Man On Bumble
Cronin and Llanos are currently part of an internal affairs investigation and facing disciplinary action.
“The Bridgeport Police Department has high standards for officer sensitivity especially in matters involving the death of a family member,” Ganim said. “It is an unacceptable failure if policies were not followed.”
However, Rawls’ sister Dorothy Rawls Washington says the mayor has yet to reach out to her family.