Two Meriden Officers Fired Over Sexual Relationship With Teen

This blog post takes a closer look at the Meriden Police Department‘s internal investigation into allegations that several officers engaged in improper sexual relationships with a 23-year-old woman. Some of these relationships reportedly began when she was a teenager, and the fallout has raised legal and disciplinary questions across Connecticut, from Meriden to Hartford, New Haven, and even further.

Meriden Police Internal Probe Finds Officers Engaged in Improper Relationships

This case drew national attention and put a spotlight on issues of public trust in policing. Investigators found that several officers acted in ways that broke professional standards.

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The inquiry dug into how personal relationships can blur with official duties, especially when it comes to safety concerns for the woman involved. She’d previously interacted with police in cities like Meriden, Hartford, and New Haven. The story rippled through communities from Waterbury and Bridgeport to Stamford and Norwalk, sparking broader conversations about accountability in law enforcement.

Key figures in the case

The main people named in the report were Ethan Busa and Alex Rodriguez. Both had interacted with the woman in work settings before things turned personal.

Investigators learned that Busa used his role to set up sexual encounters. The woman said their intimacy started when she was about 17. Busa admitted to having sex with her several times, and the state labor board later upheld his firing.

Rodriguez, who once arrested the woman and was supposed to create a safety plan for her, admitted to a sexual relationship. He also tried to erase evidence from his work phone. He was fired for breaking multiple policies, including dishonesty and abusing his authority. His appeal is still ongoing.

Lt. Antonio Carusone was another key figure. The woman had known him since she was 16. He retired just before the investigation started and didn’t fully cooperate.

Investigators found 51 calls between Carusone and the woman. But without his testimony, they couldn’t make formal findings about his actions.

A fourth officer was accused of having sex with the woman off duty after Rodriguez gave him her number. This officer had already transferred to another department before the investigation began, so there were no departmental findings about him.

A fifth officer faced a separate claim that he hit the woman during a car ride while allegedly drunk. Investigators couldn’t back up this claim because there wasn’t enough evidence, and that officer was away on military duty.

Disciplinary outcomes and actions

Authorities put all the involved officers on administrative leave right away. Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado said these actions betrayed public trust and moved to strip Busa and Rodriguez of their police certifications. That sent a strong message about accountability.

The case didn’t just stay in Meriden. People and officials in places like Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, Middletown, New Britain, Bristol, and Waterbury started asking if their own departments needed better oversight and safeguards.

Busa: Fired, and the labor board backed the decision after the misconduct findings.
Rodriguez: Also fired; his appeal is still in progress as investigations continue.
Carusone: Retired before the investigation really got going, so there was no complete finding due to his lack of cooperation.
Other officers: Some faced administrative actions or transfers. In a couple of cases, allegations couldn’t be proven, often because of missing evidence or because the officer was away on military orders.

Investigation process and legal considerations

The investigation started with a state police review. That review led to a criminal inquiry, but officials closed that path after the woman recanted—she said she feared police retaliation.

Internal investigators saw that some actions might’ve broken the law. Still, the department chose administrative discipline.

This episode shows the tension between protecting someone vulnerable and the tricky reality of seeking justice when people hesitate to cooperate. Fear of retaliation keeps coming up, not just in Meriden, but in places like New London, Waterford, New Haven, and Hartford.

People across Connecticut—whether they’re in Meriden, Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, or Middletown—keep asking for more transparency, clearer misconduct policies, and better oversight. That seems like the only way to build real trust in law enforcement.

As the Meriden department and other Connecticut agencies look at their own procedures, folks in Cheshire, Glastonbury, Norwich, and Waterbury are paying attention. Will they prevent misconduct next time? Will victims feel safe coming forward? Only time will tell.

Here is the source article for this story: Meriden cops fired after sexual relationship with teen

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